My dear friend Farooq Nadeem died in the Airblue flight 202 crash in Islamabad today...Inna Lillaha Wa Inna Elaihe Rajeoon!

The call this morning from Pakistan came as a big shock. Farooq was a dear friend of mine who I had known for over 30 years. He was a frequent business traveler on Airblue within and outside Pakistan. He is survived by his wife and his only son. After the first false reports of survivors among 152 passengers and crew, they both rushed from Karachi to Islamabad in the hope of finding him among the survivors. Let's hope and pray that they can bear this tremendous loss.

Farooq and I graduated from NED in EE in 1974, and he was the spirit behind a website and email list of NED's 1974 graduates that has helped the group stay in touch. Thanks to his efforts, I have reconnected and met with a number of alums in various parts of the world.

My family and I had the good fortune of spending some time with Farooq and his wife and son during our Karachi visit last year. Since we had gone to attend my nephew's wedding and my sister's house was full with extended family members, we decided to stay at a hotel. Farooq advised against it and made arrangements for us to stay in a nice suite at a private club near his home. We met several times for breakfast, lunch or dinner at common friends' homes, restaurants and private clubs, and his wife and son drove us around during our stay in Karachi. I still remember when one of my daughters fell ill and Farooq, Annie and Faraz accompanied us to the Agha Khan Hospital's emergency room and stayed for hours until she was treated and released.

Though I was lucky to be counted among Farooq's friends, I was not alone as recipient of his sincerity and generosity. It was felt by all of his friends and acquaintances who came in contact with him. The outpouring of sadness and sympathy upon his untimely death are a testimony to the the deep impression he made on many people who knew him.

The other gentleman, Naseem Aftab from California, was in Pakistan in connection with his daughter's engagement. Now his wife Samina, his newly-engaged daughter, and his son are devastated by their sudden tragic loss.

I did not know Naseem well, but we shared many common friends. He was well liked and he and his wife Samina were often invited to many of the same parties as my wife and I. Naseem will definitely be missed by Silicon Valley's Pakistani-American community at large.


May their souls rest in peace and may Allah's blessings be upon their bereaved families.

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

Farooq Nadeem's Page on PakAlumni

Airblue Flight 202 Passenger List

Eleven Days in Karachi