PNS Mehran Hero Lieutenant Yasir Abbas Shaheed

Who amongst us can forget the evening of 22ndMay 2011? The audacity of the extremist and terrorists forces in Pakistan was seen on this evening, when armed with AK-47s, M-16s, hand grenades, RPGs and night vision goggles, they attacked the Pakistan Naval Base Mehran situated in Karachi. Eighteen personnel of Pakistan Security Forces lost their lives and sixteen of them were wounded. Among those who were martyred was one Lieutenant Yasir Abbas Shaheed.

Lt. Yasir Abbas Shaheed was born in 1986 in Lahore. After his early education, he joined the armed forces through 67th EC PAF course, then trained at Risalpur from where he graduated with a degree in Aeronautics. Before the audacious attack began, he was on the phone with his mother, who knew not that she was hearing her son’s voice for the last. While he was conversing with his mother, he heard gunshots and blasts and told his mother he would be right back after investigating. He never returned. Instead, back came his body, wrapped in a Pakistani flag. The brave son of the land took three bullets to his chest and achieved the high status of a Shaheed.

Lt. Yasir Abbas Shaheed was described by his peers and seniors as a smart, dedicated and courageous soldier, who was always wililng to help anybody. He was quite handsome and he was engaged to get married within the next four months but fate had other plans. His family describes him as a very able and sharp boy, both as a youth and an adult. He belonged to a military family with his maternal grandfather also in the Pakistan Army as a doctor and his own father is a retired Colonel. The thing that brings the most tears in ones eyes is the fact that he was the only brother of three sisters. No doubt that they will be extremely proud of him, but surely they miss their only brother, who so selflessly gave his life for Pakistan.

Such events in life makes one wonder, who are these animals who so mercilessly kill sons, brothers and husbands? But it also shows that in the country which was created by Muslims, in the name of Allah, there never will be a scarcity of heroic and brave men, who are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the motherland. And as long as such men continue to exist, we as Pakistanis, should always hold our head high, with pride and continue working towards a better and more secure Pakistan for all. Pakistan Zindabaad.