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Afzal Cheema was my batch mate (1964-1969).
His fame at Petaro was the hole
in his head - a circular bald spot of the size of
a coin towards the back. Therefore everyone used
to call him "Hole in the Head" or simply "Hole".
And every time anyone called him by that name, he
would bow down out of humbleness and show the
hole.
Cheema was a man full of life and laughter. He
would always keep the company alive.
He was an excellent cricketer and was the Captain
of the College Cricket
team in 1968-1969. He was also a member of the
Famous Forties
in 1967 and 1968.
He held appointments in Liaquat House throughout,
and was appointed the Senior Section Commander in
1968-1969.
"Hole" joined
Pakistan Army after leaving Petaro in the infantry
division. He retired from the army as a Lieutenant
Colonel around the year 1999. After that he joined
the National Fertilizer Corporation as the Manager
of their Bulk Store in Gujranwala. He remained in
that position until his death in 2008.
When I returned to
Pakistan in 1995, he was still in service based in
Rawalpindi. We met a few times at our batch
gatherings here in Islamabad. When we had the
grand reunion of our batch mates at Petaro in
September 2001, "Hole" was with us. He played the
cricket match during that reunion against the 12th
class.
We will miss you
Afzal Cheema. May Allah grant you jannatul firdaus. |
