MM News

QUETTA: An 80-year-old retired policeman received his PhD in political science at the University of Balochistan, proving that age is just a number if one resolves to achieve their dream.

Talking to Arab News, Haibatullah Halimi served in Balochistan’s police force for 40 years but was always driven by his passion for knowledge. On October 26, he received his doctorate degree for a thesis on Balochistan’s geography and security challenges.

When Balochistan Governor Zahoor Ahmed Agha called out Halimi named, he couldn’t hold back his commendation for the octogenarian committed to pursuing education while defying age barriers.

The governor embraced the man — who walks with a stick and came up the stage with the support of two people — before bestowing him with the degree. Halimi got enrolled at the university and secured his MPhil in 2011.

Deciding he wasn’t done yet, Halimi went on to earn his PhD in 2019 but the convocation scheduled a year later was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I guess I am the first student in Balochistan’s history who got a standing ovation at the auditorium,” he said, adding, “People stood up and clapped. It was a proud moment which made me feel that I was rewarded for years of my educational struggle.”

Haleemi has 12 children who have all completed graduate degrees in various academic disciplines. “We did not have any tutor until secondary school since our father used to teach us,” Haleemi’s 43-year-old son, Ali Haleemi, told Arab News.

Adil Zaman Kasi, the dean of the Department of Political Science at Balochistan University, said the octogenarian student would serve as an inspiration to the younger generation of Pakistan.

“Haibatullah Halimi, despite being aged, remained determined to pursue his goal. We did not expect him to complete his PhD, but he persevered till the end and succeeded in his mission,” Kasi told Dawn.com.