- Pakistani Farman Ali Khan lost his life rescuing people in a flood in Jeddah in 2009.
- Both Saudi and Pakistan governments have posthumously honored Khan
KARACHI: The daughters of a Pakistani man considered a hero in both his home country and 抖阴短视频 for rescuing 14 Saudi nationals during torrential floods in Jeddah said he had always dreamt of being a doctor but circumstances forced him to leave his education and become a grocer in the port city on the Red Sea.
In late November 2009, flash floods churned through Jeddah, killing at least 116 people. Khan tied one end of a rope to a pipe and the other to his waist and jumped into the roaring floodwater to rescue people. He saved 14 lives and lost his own during his attempt to rescue a fifteenth person.
He was posthumously awarded the King Abdul Aziz Medal of the First Order by the Saudi government and Pakistan鈥檚 Tamgha-e-Shujat by then president Asif Ali Zardari.
Zubaida, Madeeha and Javeriah Khan, Khan鈥檚 three daughters, and other relatives spoke to Arab News by phone from his hometown of Swat and remembered him as a patient, mild-mannered, sporty family man who loved to joke and lived to help others.
鈥淗e couldn鈥檛 become a doctor so now we will fulfill his dream,鈥� said Zubaida whose father was forced because of financial troubles to quit studying after the intermediate level and move to 抖阴短视频 to seek work.
鈥淲e unluckily spent little time with Khan Jee,鈥� she said, using the title with which his family addresses him. 鈥淏ut the life he lived has made him alive in our memories forever. Everyone in our neighborhood and school knows us as the children of a hero. Khan Jee is our superstar,鈥� she added.
Khan鈥檚 father Umar Rehman described his son, one of nine siblings, as hardworking and always busy but said he would call his family in Pakistan every opportunity he got. He loved playing sports, especially weight training and karate.
鈥淗e was brave and fearless but very kind and highly obedient,鈥� Rehman said. 鈥淗e would always talk in a light way, laughing out loud. I remember that when my mother [his grandmother] would get upset, he would crack jokes till she would start laughing. I had never seen him angry or quarreling with anyone.鈥�
Rehman said he was crushed when he heard about his son鈥檚 passing but the story of his bravery 鈥渟tarted healing my wounds, gradually.鈥�
Soon after Khan鈥檚 death, the family got a condolence letter from Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and an invitation to 抖阴短视频. The family was seen off at Islamabad airport by the Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan and arrived in 抖阴短视频 as special state guests. A grand reception was held at the palace where the king awarded Khan the King Abdul Aziz Medal of the First Order.
Khan鈥檚 brother Asmat Ali Khan said a Saudi charity organization, Al Nadwa Shabab Islami, had also built a huge mosque in his brother鈥檚 name.
His father said just weeks before his death, Khan said he planned to get Rehman a longer-term Hajj visa so they could spend some time together.
鈥淔arman from his childhood had learnt to live for others. He gave us the message that those living for others live long, even if their souls journey to another world,鈥� Rehman said. 鈥淔arman is alive, in our hearts and in our memories.鈥�