So, thread on my 1st C.O. Lt. Col. (Later Lt. Gen.) Ahmad Jamal Khan, older brother of Major (Later Lt. Gen.) Ahmad Kamal Khan, Adjutant P.M.A. when I was there. (Which is why I did not get my choice posting: 12th Cavalry/6th Lancers/5 Horse, and was sent to 4th Battalion 2/
2/ (Prince of Wales' Own) The Baluch (then, now Baloch) Regt., Col Jamal Commanding. I was only a junior Lieutenant with one years service when I went to my village, Wah, for a long weekend. My grandmother who had brought me up and who saw nothing wrong with whatever I did(!) 3/
3/ agreed that I should take her 2-door Chevrolet 1951/2, California Model, back to Sialkot with me. I parked the car behind the Nissen Hut within the Bn HQs because I had a feeling I had done something wrong!I was in the Training Area when I saw the Adjutant's Orderly marching4/
4/ towards me. He saluted and said, 'Sir, Adjutant Sab salaam bol rahe hain'. Meaning that the Adjutant had summoned me. I walked to the Bn HQs and entered the Adjt's office and saluted him. Without asking me to sit down, Capt. Ghulam Mehdi, who in later years I found to be a 5/
6/ lovely man, turned to his left,where the Head Clerk sat with his clerks in an office abutting the Adjt's and said,'Head Clerk Saab,Lt. Saab ka leave certificate tayaar hai').The Adjt. handed me the Leave Certificate and said,'The C.O.has given you a weeks leave.Go and leave 7/
8/the car home. 'Sir...'The Adjt. interrupted me and said 'You may leave now!!' I snapped off an angry (therefore exaggerated) salute and marched out of his office, got into the car, packed a bag, said goodbye to my batman the Late and much mourned L/Nk. Azam Ali (who saved my 9/
little daughter's life 33 years later!), and drove to Wah. The
following Monday I was playing football with our Bn. team when I saw the C.O. drive his VW into the car park. He summoned me...I greeted him in the formal way and he started walking gesturing me to follow him. 10/
following Monday I was playing football with our Bn. team when I saw the C.O. drive his VW into the car park. He summoned me...I greeted him in the formal way and he started walking gesturing me to follow him. 10/
11/ 'How many officers have cars in the Bn. Kamran'? 'Two (him and the 2I/C) Sir', I said. 'NOW do you understand why I asked you to leave your car at home'? 'Yes Sir, I said. 'Do you have a Bicycle',he asked. 'No Sir'. 'Well, get one'. 'I don't have the money, Sir,I replied'12/
13/The very next day the C.O's orderly, red sash and all, came marching into the Training Area, saluted me, and said, 'Sir C.O. Saab salam keh rahe hain'! O' God what have I done now, I said to myself. I marched into the C.O.'s office and snapped off an exaggerated salute. 14/
14/ 'Sit down, Kamran', and to his Orderly, 'Subedar Major Saab ko salam bolo'. The SM Mehr Mohammad Khan (who I arrested a year later, when he didn't salute me purposely!!!!!!) came in and saluted the C.O. 'Saab, Laftain Saab ko City lay jaiyen aur RTC (Regimental Treasure 15/
15/ Chest) say inn ko accha sa cycle lay dein. Dekhna dynamo bhi ho aur poora chain cover.Mess Havildar ko bataein kay Laftain Sab kay mess bill main har maheenay 50.00 rupay jama karay jab tak cycle ki keemat poori nahin ho jati'. So, off we went in the Duty Dodge, me in the 16/
16/front seat, S.M. Saab on the bench in the back (there were no double-cabins then). Bought the bicycle, and the next day happily rode with my comrades to parade. What a way to bring a young whippersnapper down to earth! Tears! Beautiful memories! C.O.'s were like fathers, 17/
17/ their lady wives, mothers to the Young Officers. And what a kind lady was Mrs. Ahmad Jamal Khan!!..They are all gone now...May the Lord rest them...Tears...
