Adnan Sami's father gets royal sendoff

Adnan Sami's father gets royal sendoff
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 13:25 IST
By Subhash K Jha, Santa Banta News Network
/> Adnan Sami's armyman-diplomat father Arshad Sami Khan who passed away on June 22 was given a State Funeral on June 26 In Islamabad. It was attended by the who's who of Pakistan.

Adnan just back from Pakistan and still in a daze can't get over the adulation and love he saw for his father.

"Everyone was there. The Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, the prime minister Syed Yosaf Raza Gilani and his wife, the Bhuttos—Benazir husband Asif Ali Zardari and their children, were there. And Pakistan's first President Ayub Khan's entire family was there, " says Adnan as he tries to gather his wits in Mumbai.

The highlight of the grand funeral was the presence of the entire army and diplomatic corps. "Right from the first chief of army Noor Khan to the present chief of army, they were all there.Every living diplomat and army officer who ever knew or worked with my father attended his funeral."

The funeral was telecast live on 950 Pakistani channels. "Even when they had other major news on television the proceedings at my father's funeral were telecast on a small window on the television screen, " says Adnan.

The funeral lasted for 45 minutes. "The air chief-marshall Rao Qamar Suleman did the slow march with my father's casket. My father's youngest brother, my son, my brother and I participated in the slow march. My father was sent off with a 21-gun salute before the entire congregation moved to our ancestral home in Islamabad. Almost a 1000 cars lined up the street where we live."

Adnan was overwhelmed by the support he received from his former wife Zeba Bakhtiar. "She kept calling my son Azaan offering any kind of help.She even offered to fly down for the funeral. Everyone in Pakistan and India has been extremely supportive throughout these trying times."

Now Adnan intends to host a memorial for his dad for his friends in the Mumbai film industry. "Everyone will be called. Because I can't think of anyone who wasn't supportive."
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