English & Urdu Text : Khalid Iqbal

Presentation : Shoaib Sobani

Akbar’s house located at Gelani Road Quetta has been a centre of attraction for

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Baluchistan. Stalwarts like Adeeb Rizvi,

Khwaja Muin, Tipu Sultan, Badar Siddiqui et.al assembled here on many

occasions. It was the grand venue for so many gatherings and campaigns of

PMA.

Akbar got his early education from St. Francis Grammar School in Quetta.

Intermediate setting was Public School Hyderabad before Joining the Dow Batch

of ‘79 on the reserved seats for Baluchistan.

Allah Dad Luni, Saifullah Jogezai, Akhtar Mandokhail was the company in Dow

and the fast paced fanciful days at Hostel No.1 were full of stir and swirl.

Elections of Dow union were the memorable days for Akbar where he recalls the

pictures of many icons of today like Salman Fareedi, Nasim Sheikhani,

Misbahul Aziz, Tariq Shakoor making scintillating speeches and the ear splitting

shout of the backdrop slogans “onwards to victory NSF, NSF, Jamiat Jamiat,

YMO YMO kahan ho kahan ho!” Akbar sometimes wonders where have gone

those glittering times.

The days of Dow were full of mirthful anecdotes which Akbar has loved to tell

his children like a bedtime remembrance. Ilahie Buksh (IB) and Akbar follow

each other in oral exams calls. IB moved into Baba Muzaffar's room for

Pathology viva. Baba was away for a while and IB sat on this chair

misunderstanding that this was meant for the candidate. On return Baba lost his

temper on witnessing the scenario. He grumbled in his Hyderabadi accent’ “This

seat was not earned overnight. I had to burn midnight oil for decades to sit here”.

How many cigarettes have you lit since morning?” O dear! Poor IB felt numbed

as if there is no blood in his circulation.

Akbar disclosed the myths linked to the trams plying on Bunder Road in the mid-

seventies. It confused many youthful and naive students from Baluchistan that

one can reach Hyderabad by the service. Indeed those were the days!

Akbar did his house job with Fazal Ellahie Sahab and the then Secretary Health

cum head of medicine Prof Sualeh Memon. Then a two years stint with Prof

Sharif Chaudhry in Cardiology was a landmark. This was a defining moment

about the future. Akbar left for England and the three years training not only

sharpened the practical skills but also brought academic laurels in terms of

Diplomas in Chest Medicine and the second in Cardiology from the University

of London. Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital in Quetta accommodated him for time

to serve on return.

The professional journey began when he formally joined Sandeman Provincial

Hospital in the Department of Cardiology. Decades of services here raised him to

the top slot Cardiologist along with the renowned Munaaf Tareen. 2012 saw

Akbar retiring from the coveted position. He then joined the historical Christian

Hospital Mission Road in Quetta as consultant Cardiologist as a continuation.

Mrs. Aziza Akbar currently serves in the Neurosurgical unit of Civil Hospital

Quetta, a challenging position considering the long-drawn-out terror stricken

climate of the province. Afrasiab has completed medical education. Aftab and

Khyber are in the process of medical graduation. Sana is doing BBA from

Baluchistan University.

Akbar has a few friends to share the good and hard times. Dr. Abdul Maalik, the

current Chief Minister of Baluchistan provides company for the hard to come by

leisure’s. “Old age may have its limitations and challenges, but in spite of them,

our latter years can be some of the most rewarding and fulfilling of our lives.”

Akbar finds these golden words of Billy Graham applicable exactly to his own

life in letter and spirit.

PERSONALITY UPLOADED ON 28TH FEB 2015

Akbar Khan ! it is very pleasing to know your achievements and hope you have kept the ideological thrive intact.

Regards

Wahid

Thanks, Shoaib and Khalid

Akbar Khan congratulations! It was nice to read about your accomplishments. Thanks for sharing pictures of your

family. It would be fun to interact with you on this forum. Drop a line or two if you can. All the best.

Bashir

Dear Shoaib ,

Thank you for reinventing Akbar Khan.

We became very close and became friends when I came to UK for PLAB, and he was doing

Diploma in Thoracic and cardiovascular medicine, and we were staying in Pakistan hostel in Earl's Court, London. I

had many very pleasant memories of him from those days.

It was heartening to know about his successes in his career and as a family man. Please convey

my heartfelt congratulations to him and if possible have his contact details as I would love to

re establish and renew our friendship.

Regards,

Ahmad SAYEED