The Silent Server Pakistan Post Remembers Abdul Rehman (Shaheed) "Sacrificing Life for the Cause of the Post" (Late) M.A. Rahim "C. L. W. (2003-9)

Abdul Rehman (Shaheed)"Sacrificing Life for the Cause of the Post"
Mr. Abdul Rehman S/o Abdul Zarin Khan was a brave person and a committed Government Servant. The family, a sign of nobility and honesty, had settled in the great cultural city of Lahore in the Punjab Province after the establishment of Pakistan in 1947. His father had been retired from Pakistan Railway Department. Born in Lahore on 10-10-1959, Abdui Rehman got his early education at Chief High School, Sultanpura Lahore with high spirit and zeal but failed to enrol for higher education due to unavoidable and unfavourable socioeconomic circumstances of his family. Abdul Rehman with built in character of bravery and honesty was fond of studying the stories of brave heroes of Islam as well as Pakistan Army.
Imbued with deep sense of service before self and sacrifice, Abdul Rehman joined Pakistan Post Office on 30-10-1977 as Packer. Due to his commitment to job he was promoted as Stamp Vendor, thereafter Postman and further elevated as Cash Overseer. He was assigned the duty to collect daily cash from Main Post Office functioning under North Unit Lahore and to take the cash to Lahore GPO for deposit.
On 13-06-2002, Mr. Abdul Rehman, Cash Overseer was performing his usual duty of cash collection but when he reached at Baghbanpura Post Office, Lahore at about 1. 15 p.m. after collecting the cash from the sub offices, two dacoits entered Baghbanpura Post Office and tried to snatch the government cash bag worth more than eight hundred thousand rupees from Mr. Rehman. Mr. Abdul Rehman - an honest, God fearing and courageous man that he was - put up a brave fight to protect the government cash. Although there were moments when he could have saved his life by abandoning the cash that he held as a trust, yet, he upheld his commitment to duty and during the scuffle was critically wounded.
All along his heroic fight against the worst and constantly weeping wounds and the trauma of multiple operations the he underwent during fifty days of hospitalization at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, he was proud of his commitment to duty thereby becoming a great "messenger' of the Post for all Pakistanis to serve their Country above self. In so doing he also achieved the coveted honor of "SHAHEED". Pakistan Post is indebted to him and to all such selfless workers whom he embodies eternally.
(Late) M.A. Rahim"Committed to Labour Welfare"
Allama Abdul Karim, a nobleman and a devout Muslim scholar, was blessed with a son on the 21st June 1919, in UP, India, whom he named M.A. Rahim. Allama Karim groomed Rehim with the vision of making him serve Islam, both in letter and in spirit. He taught him five languages, helped him develop insight into religion with a modern perspective, trained him the skills of horse-riding, swimming, shooting and combat fighting. Above all he taught him to learn, to apply his mind and to tread the path of Allah.
It was only natural that a person like M.A. Rahim was deeply effected by the extent of human suffering and massacre he witnessed at the time of partition. Also, having to have left behind his beloved sister, property that he never claimed in Pakistan, and his father's grand library with thousands of books and manuscripts that were later nationalised by the government of India. He vowed never to forget the price the people had paid for their motherland, Pakistan, he made up his mind to serve the nation, a vow that he lived upto for the rest of his life.
Intelligent as he was, Mr. Rahim first set himself to become strong economically, so that he could serve the people both financially and practically. He took it upon himself to revive the printing industry of Pakistan, since after partition most Presses in Pakistan, had to be shut down due to lack of know-how.
Over the years, he experimented relentlessly, working day and night to master the art of Block Printing, Letter Press Printing, Colour Separation, and Offset Printing. His presses, The Pioneer Block Company and The Focus Limited, became centres of excellence, where he produced hundreds of technicians and printers who now form the back-bone of the printing industry of Pakistan. Thus, not only did he become a successful businessman he became the founding father of the printing industry of Pakistan.
Parallel to this is his unparallel contribution in the field of Public Service. Attracted by his powerful and kind personality, hordes of under-privileged people sought for his help. His reputation travelled and in 1960's to 1980's millions came under his umbrella for guidance and chose him their leader. He was elected the head of many Unions and Federations. Some of the offices he held were:
- Editor Mazdoor Weekly.- President All Pakistan Federation of labour.- President All Pakistan Trade Unions (East & West).- President All Pakistan Postman and Lower Grade Staff Union.- President Railway Mazdoor Union.- Chairman Labour Welfare and Education Council of Pakistan.- President Pakistan Government Employees Federation.- Working President for Pakistan Asia Committee for Peace, Solidarity and Human Rights.- Visiting Professor Civil Service Academy.- Judge Minimum Wages Board.- Member Censor Board.- President Muslim Students Federation.- Most Unions of Industries & Transport including PIA were under his leadership.- Member Council for the Rehabilitation of disabled persons.- Member Heart Association.
In 1966 the UNO chose him to study Labour Law from McGill University, Canada, where he was absolutely outstanding. His clarity of thought, honesty of purpose and power of speech won him many friends internationally. His diplomatic services were sought by the government of Pakistan to head innumerable delegations at the UNO, ILO, Muslim Countries, Europe and Asia. His services in the field of Labour were recognized by many countries, including Russia where he was awarded a Gold Medal. He was sent to USSR seven times to open the channel for negotiation for the top leadership of Pakistan. He became the ambassador of peace for the Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and was a great advocate of Muslim Unity.
Mr. Rahim preformed advisory services for successive governments of Pakistan, to bring about Labour reforms. His philosophy was based upon the Tripartite Labour Policy, that ensures the benefit of the government, the industry and the labour, for the mutual interest of all. Since his primary interest was the solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan and the welfare of its people.He launched the weekly newspaper "Mazdoor" of which he was the Editor. He voiced his ideology through this paper for 47 years, without fear or favour. A mission he clung on to even in times of desperation, having to face financial and health hazards. His articles are a unique treasure of the chronological advents of the history of Labour in Pakistan, with its pit falls and ideas for reforms.
He worked extensively at the grass-root level, guiding, speaking, funding, representing and helping all those to whom he could reach out in the remotest corners of the country. He pursued his mission stoically, never accepting bribe or compromising on principles, Endlessly advocated the cases of the labourers for free, to the extent that he bore all expenses incurred on travel and court. In the process the exhausted his, wealth, business, property and health. He suffered successive heart attacks, but kept on serving the nation. His unflinching faith in Allah prevented him from accepting help from anyone. He kept struggling on a long and tiresome journey but sustained for twenty more years, until he was able to establish his children to take his place and carry on his mission. All along he worshipped Allah ardently, specially in the wee hours of the morning.
At the age of 83, at the time of his death, on 8th Jan. 2003 he was writing for the "Mazdoor" when his soul left his body. He was only too willing to embrace death for he was not afraid of dying, since he had served Allah and the people of Pakistan, with every ounce of energy, every moment of his life, to the best of his ability, "Leaving behind footprints on the sand of time". Date of Issue (August 03, 2003)