Adil Najam
This news item from today’s Daily Times (23 September, 2006) needs no explanation. Saira Amin needs our words of congratulations, and maybe a crisp salute.
The coveted Sword of Honour for best all-round performance was claimed by Aviation Cadet Saira Amin, who made history by being the first woman pilot to have won the Sword of Honour in any defence academy of Pakistan. The passing out parade of the 117th GD (P) course, which includes the second batch of three women pilots, was held at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Academy, Risalpur Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, PAF chief of air staff, was the chief guest. The trophy for best performance in general service training and the Chief of Air Staff Trophy for best performance in flying were lifted by Aviation Cadet Squadron Under Officer Nadir Ali. The Asghar Hussain Trophy for best performance in academics was achieved by Aviation Cadet Saira Amin. Squadron No 3 received the Quaid-e-Azam Banner for being the champion squadron.
I had always thought that Inayat Hussain Bhatti’s 1965 song, jang khed nai zananian di (‘war is not the sport of women’) was a ratehr silly song. I guess Ms. Amin is also not a fan of that song. I wish her the very best, although I do also wish that neither she nor anyone else – man or woman – has to actually go to war to demonstrate the silliness of Mr. Bhatti’s histrionics.
The courage of Mukhtaran Mai, the skill of Urooj Mumtaz Khan, the determination of Saira Amin, and the sheer resiliance of all the other 80 million women in Pakistan. You make us proud.
[…] Today is March 8 – International Women’s Day. Today we wish to celebrate women in the fullness of what it means to be a woman in Pakistan. To celebrate their achievements (also here, here, here and here). And to celebrate their struggles (also here, here, here and here). […]
I am Proud of You.
I Pay my tribute to those parents who give you that courage to break 116 year old record to become the first ever sword winner in Pakistan Air force all Time best Cadet performer.
I wish you best of Luck and Remember still you have to face many difficuilties from echo oriented men but always think like:
You are special and You are proud Pakistani
I am proud of Pakistani Womens and I am now proudly can share this news with many foreign colleagues in Canada that we are the great nation and in our Country we give womens an equal chances of progress.
Once again Saira Amin please accept my sincere wishes for your future and i know still Pakistani womens have many steps to take to make Pakistan great and you have to become a model for them.
airman(?) sehrish, isn’t playing masculine part of the military act? Perhaps see her after the show and may be you’ll like her more.
not to be rude or disrespectful, i m as proud on our paf females as anybody else could be from pakistan..being in united states airforce myself, just wonder that why women looks so…(let me find a word)…”mardmar”(if you know wut does it mean) in military, like they just completely lost there feminism qualities traditionally ascribed to women, as sensitivity or gentleness. i guess its just a military bearing….