Obituary of a Sarmachar

By Nokaf Baloch

Dedicated to ‘Kohsar-E-Watan Shaheed Shoaib Jan Lakmeer on his first martyrdom anniversary, 26^th January

I remember that nasty morning very well when I woke up in the morning and check my mobile, as usual, to see if anybody texted or called me? When I switched on the mobile screen, I found a message from my friend. As I opened the message I was shocked, my body shuddered and my eyes flushed into tears. The message which caused me to shock that ”Shoaib Baloch has been martyred in Kolwah” This awful message changed my whole life. I was extremely devastated on the loss of Shaheed Shoaib Jan (Lakmeer) who was only 21 years old.

Shoaib Baloch born in 1997 in a small village named was Shapuk in Turbat area of district Kech, Balochistan. He completed his Matriculation from his hometown and spent his childhood playing cricket. He was very much fond of cricket and because of his keen interest in cricket, remembered many international cricket matches.

He went to Atta Shaad Degree College Turbat for his higher education and occasionally visited his hometown due to education entanglement. Shoaib Baloch’s behaviour changed after his Matriculation he used to spend his time in deep silence. He was a humorous person, therefore, he was loved by his circle of friends and beyond. He never liked arguing and the best answer to an argument was his silence.

Shaheed Lakmeer never only expressed his feelings of his motherland; therefore no one knew that deep inside Shaheed Shoaib was always burning because of enslavement of Baloch nation and Balochistan.

He left for his mission in 2015 when he was the student of the second year in Punjab group of college. He joined Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) in 2015 after a year Shoaib Baloch developed difference with BLF and joined the Baloch Republican Army (BRA). He remained with the latter let his last breath.

Many of his familiar soldiers were shocked when they saw Shaheed Shoaib Baloch because they were not aware that Shoaib was also a soldier of his motherland. He used to go to different areas of Balochistan for missions. He was very responsible and well-principled due to which he has a good reputation among his comrades and seniors. Shoaib was also well known for his bravery. Once a helicopter started shelling on Shoaib but he faced it skilfully and survived.

His friends wanted him to get back to his education insist that he should carry on his education but he refused to go back saying, “I cannot come back, there are thousands of solider and comrades like me who have embraced martyrdom. How can I deceive those martyred comrades who put the responsibility of protecting motherland on my shoulders?’

When Shaheed Shoaib Jan had seen the death very closely he told his comrades not to wait for him. According to his comrades, he broke his mobile when he was wounded and continued fight against the enemy even after one of becoming injured.

Shoaib was martyred on 26 January in 2018, when was staying in a camp along with his comrades. The enemy forces tried to capture the camp but Shaheed Shoaib stood before the enemy like a shield and told his comrade protected his comrades. When he realised the enemy was closing in he told his friends to leave.  comrade insist and asked him to go with them but Shaheed Shoaib did not go because he knew that if he stopped fighting the enemy would either kill or capture many of his other comrades. Therefore, he stayed in and held the enemy forces and saved his other comrades in camp.

After an hour of fighting, he got martyred. He departed physically and is not among us but his bravery sincerity and sacrifice are close to our hearts and his dedication to motherland remains a guiding torch for the upcoming generations of Balochistan. His organisation honoured him with the title of ‘Kohsar-e-Watan’.