Lieutenant Zarar Ahmad Bin Mansoor was born in Tando Adam, a small town in District Sanghar, province Sindh on 14 July 1973 in a Punjabi settler family. The family house is still located in Chania Para. His maternal grandfather Mohammad Ishaq was a known religious scholar of the area and ran his own business.

Parents of Zarar, Mansoor Ahmad Malik and Kulsoom Mansoor were cousins and the family belonged to Gurdaspur, East Punjab in undivided India. There were twelve villages of Muslims (Babal Chak, Faiz Ullah Chak, Sut Kohiah, Wazir Chak etc.), near Dahriwal in that area and most of the KAKAY ZAI clan was living there. Some of the relatives were living in villages Dehsian, Kawali, near Kulanoor, Tehsil Betala. They used to cultivate land, but considerable number of their young men fought in two world wars. During independence of subcontinent, these villagers were informed that their area is going to be in Pakistan. They were quite relaxed, but in August 1947 they came to know that their area would be a part of India. They were caught unprepared and had to face one of the biggest tragedies of the history. A gruesome massacre of the innocent people started. These villagers fought bravely to aggressors but could not defend themselves indefinitely. Many lost their lives, among them were a real paternal uncle of Zarar and at that time 25 years old real brother of his grandfather. Under this background, the family moved to Pakistan on foot, leaving behind all their belongings, assets and many dear ones dead. They initially settled in village 56 GB, Tehsil Jaranwala, Faislabad and after sometimes went to settle in different places like Lahore and Sindh to earn a living.

Zarar, commonly called as Ahmad by his family and friends, was youngest member of the family. He had one elder brother Atif, an engineer by profession and one elder sister Doctor Khola. Once he was just six days old, he got his right arm fractured. The young kid was so much caressed by the innocent elder sister that she somehow caused that fracture. That was the start of ultimate love between brother and sister, which flourished in years to come.

His parents moved to Lahore, where they lived in Bengali Mohallah, Sadar. Later on, his parents shifted to old Anarkali and consequently to staff residential area of Services hospital Lahore, where her mother Mrs Kulsoom Mansoor was the head of Nursing Teaching School. Zarar proved himself to be perhaps naughtiest kid of the family. He had a great ability to make his clothes dirty within no time. He was very fond of climbing trees, inspecting the eggs and nests of different birds. His mother had to always worry about him and his clothes.

Zarar went to Government Central Model School Lower Mall, one of the best schools in the city. He proved himself to be an intelligent student, but he was much more active in sports and quarrels with fellow students. He was physically slim but full of energies. In 1981, his parents moved to Sargodha, a small city in central Punjab. He went to study at Air Base Inter College, Sargodha. He proved himself to be good in studies and sports.

In 1986, his parents again moved to another city, Rahim Yar Khan, a city in southern Punjab. He studied at Garrison School later named as Army Public School, Rahim Yar Khan. Here, he was able to develop his personality. Here, he turned from a lean child to a tall strong youth. He was a member of school football and basketball teams. He did have problems with school administration once or twice, but overall he was liked by his teachers and envied by the fellow students. After his martyrdom, Army Public School, Rahim Yar Khan has named a building after this great son of their institution who preferred martyrdom instead of becoming a prisoner.

In 1988, his parents moved back to Lahore. Next year he did matriculation from Lahore Public School, Lahore Cantt. Zarar studied in different schools in different cities. This opportunity to study in different areas, coming across people with different cultures, traditions and language dialects enriched his experience of life.

The young man was full of ambitions. He decided to join Pakistan Air Force as a pilot, but later opted to join Pakistan Navy. His decision was based on his two wishes: to visit the different far-flung lands and his strong desire to embrace martyrdom. From his childhood, he was fascinated with the historic stories narrated by his grandfather, Malik Mohammad Nasib, a retired Police official. The journey full of scarifies which his family took from India to free Pakistan. In Islamic practices, there is no death better than martyrdom. Though not very religious, his utmost desire was to die for a cause, to be buried in national flag. In his first letter from Junior Cadet College, PNS Rahnuma to his sister (that too in 1989, ten years before his martyrdom), he wrote that he would like to die for a cause, his country.

At Naval Academy, he proved his metal. He was good in studies, and proved himself to be very good sportsman. He excelled in football, basketball, rowing and boxing. He was named for highest appointment in his final term at Junior Cadet College. Later, he had some problems with the administration and was relinquished from the appointment. A very self-contented man, he never regretted the loss. At Naval Academy, his weak area was swimming. In his first term, he quite difficulty managed to pass the swimming test. But he improved the same in subsequent terms. He started to play snooker and later distinguished himself as an outstanding player.

On his graduation from Naval Academy in July 1993, Zarar had the honour to carry the Pakistan Navy's flag. He later served at different naval ships. During this period, he had once strife with one of his officers commanding and he was threatened with a court martial. The thing was however later somehow resolved.

He visited Gulf and South Africa on naval cruise. In 1997, he volunteered himself for Naval Aviation, and got selected after qualifying the aptitude test. He went to College of Flying Training, PAF Academy Risalpur, where he stood first in Flying. From then onwards, he developed a love for flying. Thrill in flying matches his personality.

Zarar learnt the basic flying skills on MFI-17 (Mashak) aircraft. In September, 1998 after qualifying as a pilot, he joined No 29 Squadron of French made Atlantic aircrafts. On 10 August, 1999 while on a training mission within Pakistani airspace his unarmed aircraft was shot down by two Indian fighter aircrafts. He along with 15 other crew members embraced martyrdom in this incident.

Zarar always longed for martyrdom. It was perhaps his strongest desire. He wrote to his family at different occasions about it. He told many times his friends about this desire, he prayed to God for it. Ultimately he was honoured with such a death that is desired by so many but is bestowed only to chosen ones.

Zarar was bachelor, and had all his love for two loving daughters and the son of his elder brother Atif. The last person from his family to whom he talked before his martyrdom was his youngest niece. He used to bring a lot of toys and gifts for them. Kids now keep all of these presents in his profound memory.

Zarar in his life had ups and down, but was never afraid of them rather always faced them bravely. He was a man of principles and sometime faced problems due to this. He had a literary touch, and used to write verses in Urdu. He knew the meanings of life and fully lived to it. As per the words of one of his companions " WOH YAROON KA YAR THA", meaning he was a friend of friends and knew how to be a real friend in need. He was quite a fun loving guy, was always there in Cinema at the first show of every new movie release. A very well dressed person, his wardrobe was always full of expensive but sober clothes. He always insisted for hot chappatis and icy cold water from his mess waiters. They used to just put ice cubes in his glass, while chappatis were brought only after he used to take his seat in the dinning hall. It was the peculiar contrast of cold and hot that was also part of his nature, a very warm hearted soul and a calm composed person. His untimely departure is matter of grief for all his acquaintances, but is also a matter of satisfaction as it was the way he always desired and wished to meet his ultimate end.

The main road leading to his home in Lahore is named after him as Zarar Shaheed Road. Also in PNS Mehran Karachi the road along the Atlantic aircrafts' hangers is named after him, a tribute to his love for aircrafts.

26-12-2000