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Shuja Khanzada Shaheed - Once a soldier, always a soldier

Dunya News

Awarded with Tamgha-e-Basalat, Shuja Khanzada was among first teams to reach Siachen in 1983

LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Martyred Home Minister of Punjab Colonel (r) Shuja Khanzada proved the age-old phrase that ‘Once a soldier, always a soldier’. Awarded with Tamgha-e-Basalat in 1988 for his services rendered to the army, Khanzada was among the soldiers of one of the first teams to reach Siachen Glacier in 1983. He was an upright politician and had proven his mettle in the army as well.

Leading the war against terrorists in Punjab, Col. (r) Shuja Khanzada had been receiving life threats for a long time but he was determined to fight the terrorists and was in no way deterred.

Born on August 28, 1943 in Shadi Khan village of Attock district, Shuja Khanzada was a true son of soil. He took commission in the Pakistan army in 1967 and fought in 1971 war as a soldier. He was also rewarded with Tamgha-e-Basalat in 1988 for his bravery.

From 1992-94, Col. (r) Shuja Khanzada remained Pakistan’s military attaché in the United States of America. He entered politics after retirement and was one of the founding members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). In 2002, he was elected to the provincial assembly of Punjab on Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) ticket and became the minister of information and agriculture.

After winning the 2008 general election, Khanzada was made the advisor to Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Shahbaz Sharif. And after winning the 2013 election on Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) ticket, he was made the Home Minister of the province.

Shuja Khanzada proved himself a brilliant performer in all fields. He was a brave soldier and a brave politician. Repeatedly refusing to surrender before the life threats he was receiving from the terrorists, Shuja Khanzada was a people’s man who regularly visited his area, kept in touch with the local people of his area and even embraced martyrdom at one such days when he was sitting in his office in his area.

The deceased Home Minister Punjab was a true Pakistani with no sides to choose. Not only was he against the hate speech spread through loudspeakers of certain sectarian seminaries, he was also against the NGOs that are working against the interests of Pakistan. Just one day before he was martyred, Shuja Khanzada was on Dunya News in the program Badal Dou where he said that even the NGOs that are not working in Pakistan s interests will be taken care of.

Former soldier’s performance as the Home Minister of Punjab can be determined by the fact that he was one of the most respectable ministers in the provincial cabinet. Former CM Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, who is known for his criticism against the current government, said while talking to Dunya News after Khanzada’s death that there is no man more capable of holding this portfolio in the province and CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif should hold it himself now instead of giving it to someone else.

Chairman PTI Imran Khan was also all praises for him. He said that he respected Shuja Khanzada and announced that PTI would not file a candidate on the seat vacated after Khanzada’s death.

Sports journalist Rehan ul-Haq said that despite all the claims made from all the sides, the real man behind the success of Zimbabwe’s tour to Pakistan was none other than Shuja Khanzada himself.

Col. (r) Shuja Khanzada embraced martyrdom on August 16, 2015 after a lustrous career spanning from 1967 to 2015 and ranging from fields as wide as military, politics and administartion. Shahbaz Sharif said on this occasion that Pakistan has lost today a true patriot and reiterated his resolve to continue the operation against terrorism.

 

Former Director General (DG) of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Masood Sharif Khattak said that Khanzada was a handsome specimen of an officer who proved the saying “Once a soldier, always a soldier”.

Related Topics
Pakistan Army
Pakistan
Pakistan Politics
Terrorism