By Kazi Zulkader Siddiqui, 671/Latif

Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah, kit no. 203/Ayub House joined Cadet College Petaro in 1961 in 8th Class and left the college in 1966 after completing his Intermediate.

He was born on 31 December 1948 at Sukkur, and got married on 14 April 1974 to Mrs. Rashida. They have three children - Shahjahan, Safdar and Shaheen (daughter).

Ashiq Hussain Shah died in the crash of an Air Blue flight near Islamabad on 28 July 2010.

Young Ashiq Hussain acquired his early education at different cities since his father was in the police and would be posted out. He studied at NJV School, Karachi and Govt High School, Sukkur as well before joining Cadet College Petaro in 1961.

After leaving Petaro, Ashiq Hussain Shah joined Mehran Engineering College at Jamshoro and graduated as an Electrical Engineer in 1971. He then joined the Irrigation Department as an Engineer. He then completed his Masters degree in Power Systems Analaysis from Trondheim, Norway. With his masters completed he was appointed the Electrical Inspector for the Hyderabad Region, and then promoted to Chief Electrical Inspector a few years later.

Rising up through the ranks, Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah was eventually promoted to the rank of provincial secretary in the Government of Sindh. He headed the P&D Department before his retirement.

Subsequent to his retirement, he set up a company by the name of Al-Rass International. He also set up a home in Australia where his son is settled.

He had returned from Australia to take care of matters at home. That is when he boarded the ill-fated Air Blue flight no. 202 (Airbus) from Karachi to Islamabad on the morning of 28th July 2010. The flight crashed on the sides of Margalla Hills at Islamabad shortly before it was supposed to land around 10am. All the 152 people on board (including 6 crew members) expired.

Ashiq Hussain Shah was the elder brother of Nazir Hussain Shah 510/Liaquat.

May Allah grant Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah jannatul firdaus.