Six years have passed since the gruesome attack at the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar shook the nation to its core. That tragic day, many families lost their children and their loved ones at the hands of militants.
Where this day reminds us of a heart-wrenching incident, it also brings back the memories of our unsung heroes.
Sofia Hijab was one of them.
Spouse of Advocate Amjad Sohail and mother of two, Hijab, 42, held Masters Degrees in International Relations, and Urdu and Education.
She had joined APS Peshawar as a junior Urdu teacher in 2013. However, she was promoted as a senior teacher quickly on the back of her dedication and hard work.
Remembered as their best friend by her daughters, Sofia was also the favorite among students. She was present at the auditorium at the time of the attack and was among the very few lucky ones who had managed to come out of the premises safely. However, she returned to the building soon after to rescue her students, and evacuated many of them before being martyred.
Her colleagues remember her as a fun-loving and hard-working woman. She enjoyed good company and arranged one-dish parties for her colleagues.
Sofia’s husband, an advocate himself, recalls his wife as a lively character.
She loved holidaying at various tourist spots, we have been to many places, but Murree was her favorite.
Amjad Sohail remembers Sofia as an expert cook. He still craves for chicken biryani she used to cook for him. Sofia was also good with various seafood dishes.
“She made special dishes for the family on the weekend.”
Her daughters, Tatheer Zahra and Farwa Agha, still miss their beloved mother. The elder one, Tatheer, still wets her eyes when she speaks of her mother.
I had never imagined a life without my mother.
Thatheer says, her mother wanted them to acquire higher education and study medicine to become a doctor.
“That is exactly what we are doing,” she said with teary eyes.
The younger daughter Farwa also remains in a state of disbelief and misses her mother, especially when she prepares for school in the morning.
Her zealous bravery was awarded and will be an emblem of pride and motivation for the generations to come.
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