MAHTAB BASHIR
ISLAMABAD
The earth is round, that’s why perhaps when two persons met
and left for good, on a particular day come across each other again and that is
for eternal relationship.
First time I met him at National Press Club (NPC) office in
Federal Capital, couple of years ago at a time when I was working as a reporter
for English newspaper ‘Daily Times’ to cover an art exhibition.
This healthy man greeted me with open arms and huge smile
to follow. With exchange of quick words and an informal attitude wrapped with
spontaneous humour, he won my heart in no time.
Before I planned to leave NPC for my office, he with his
trademark Punjabi accent said, “O janab, pehli mulakaat ay, koi roti shoti te
khaa k jao’. (It’s our first meeting and you should have a meal with me). I was
in hurry and with an excuse I replied, “Butt sab- mein kuj jaldi which aan-
Insha Allah, fair bohat jald mulakaat hoi gi.” (I’m in hurry and will see you
pretty soon)”.
For mid and begin level Journalists in Pakistan, life is
tough as he has to do all the hard work compiling stories braving scorching
heat or chilly winter, to compose, and file it in a day’s stipulated time and
often he has to skip his daily meals.
Days went by and it became my routine after finishing off
my official work, I along with my young fellow Ali Hassan started our search
for good restaurants in twin cities to have dinner together. We tasted almost
every restaurants of sister cities but failed to find out a particular
restaurant with a combination of taste and low price.
Ali at that time was residing Shamsabad (Murree Road) and I
have to drop him there at night before moving to my own place at I-10. Mid way
through, at double Road (Stadium Road), we tried all the restaurants and got
fed up soon.
On a night, Ali desired to look around a restaurant he was
told by his friend that restaurant offers a taste to devour. We didn’t know the
exact location but all we knew it was situated in a small street over the road.
And finally we got it. “Lahore Khaba” was the name of that small restaurant
with a big portrait of comedian Sohail Ahmed eating a chicken piece erected in
and outside the eatery.
As soon as I reached near, I saw Amanullah Butt (a senior
journalist and owner of that restaurant) for the second time- sitting on a
reception chair of ‘Lahori Khaba’. Drawing a long puff of ‘Gold Leaf’, he instantly
recognized me and started uttering ‘Bismillah’, ‘Bismillah’ for a fair
distance. Later I found, ‘Bismillah’, ‘Welcome’ and ‘Thank you’ as his pet (repeated)
words.
On my first day, inside the ‘Lahori Khaba’, I noticed a
number of photographs of Butt sab with prominent political, social and cultural
personalities hanging over the walls. Afzal Butt’s solo photograph was also
seen on the wall of restaurant. Upon asking why Butt sahib’s photo is here? Is it
because he is the president of National Press Club? Butt sab first smiled and
than replied, “o janab (Afzal Butt sab) … meray wadday pai jan nay ay. And I said
masha allah. Later, Butt sab told me he writes column/ article in Urdu and
Punjabi newspapers and I said pointing towards a wall--- yes, it is quite
visible butt sab as one of your article is also pasted on the wall. He smiled
again.
I distinctly remember, on that day I enjoyed Egg dipped in ‘Channay’
in dinner and it was the first time I tasted Chanay the way it is cooked. Before
leaving the restaurant, I spoke highly about the taste of Chanay and told Butt
sab we were in search of delicious food and your restaurant is the one we are
looking for. Butt sab smiled again and shared a joke in response.
‘Lahori Khabay’ offered traditional foods including Chanay,
Sri Paay, Khadd, etc I’m oblivion with.
Now, visiting that restaurant became my staple diet.
Everyday I went there along Ali at ‘Lahori Khabay’. Later, we started debating
on political issues rather just having a dinner. I’ve also visited his
restaurant at Sehri time during last Ramadan.
Every night, Butt sab delivered an insight out analysis of
an issue- and that too prolonging with few jokes. From allotment of plots to journalists,
to Supreme Court of Pakistan, from Zardari to Gilani, every issue came under
our discourse during the dinner.
One night, when I reached ‘Lahori Khabay’, Butt sab asked
me, haan g- ki khabraan nay. I said Butt sab- I went to attend a memorial reference
in memory of Mastana, and Babbu Baral and just came here after filing this
story. Butt sab went in a trance of nostalgia and kept of sharing the history
of both the late great comedians. “Main ainda dowan naal bohat time guzaraya
ay- balkay bohat acha time guzarya ay. Bohat achay insaan san tay bethay bethay
koi jughat te gal bana lainde san. Or banda hans hans k pagal ho janda si,” he
shared changing his facial expression from smile to sadness.
“Par Babbu wi ajeeb banda si. PM ne 5 lakh ilaaj aaste
ditta, te 2.5 lakh de LCD lay aya,” Butt said. Now I was confused whether I should
laugh here or to show seriousness. Butt sab also shared about the expansion of
his business saying he will maintain balance between his hotel business and
journalism.
It is quite hard to round off my feelings about this great workaholic
man who always said goodbye to me with his trade mark humour. I remember often
while leaving ‘Lahori Khabay’, I requested Butt sab to share that incident about
brother of Humaira Arshad. And Butt sab said… “haan… o ainj hoya, aik din aisi
aik party arrange keeti, ohday te Humaira Arshad nu bula lia. 2 ghante ho gay,
o na aai. Ohda bhai (ohda secretary wi si). Mein ohday kolo jado wi Humaira
Arshad da puchaha, o kainda ay… ye jo ap meray galay mein Locket dekh rahay hain
na, ye may Humaira k sath UK, gia tha, wahan se laya tha. Ye jo ap bracelet dekh
rahay hain, ye mein HUmaira k sath UAE ki visit pet ha, jahan se lay k aya tha.
Or ….. ye jeans maine USA se purchase kit hi. Butt sab said, he got furious
upon this answer as everyone getting late. And…. Finally I said to him… “Aor
tum apni behan ki kon kon si naimato ko jhutlao ge,” and everyone around us
found laughing.
On June 2 (Saturday), I got an sms from Bilal Dar about Amanullah
Butt suffering with brain hemorrhage and admitted to PIMS hospital. I started
praying for his early recovery knowing well those who make other happy wont vanish
too early. But later, I got the news of sad and untimely death of Butt sahib.
May Allah Almighty bless Butt sab’s soul in eternal peace
and grant his family and relatives the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
RIP Butt sab, I know, now the air of Heaven is filled with
your jokes and you are making your presence felt there as well.
