Mujahideen of Tehreek Pakistan, Mahmud Ali (1919-2006) February 18, 2020 (2020-4)

 

"We'll never compromise on Kashmir" were the last words of Mr. Mahmud Ali who died of a heart attack during a school function in Lahore on 17th November 2006. These words encapsulate his unwavering belief in social justice and the right of all people to live with dignity, free of exploitation. It is this belief that drove him to fight for the creation of Pakistan as a homeland for Muslims and other marginalised peoples of the sub-continent; and it is this that made him support the freedom struggle of the Kashmir Muslims until his dying moment.

Born in Sylhet on September 1, 1919 to Moulvi Mujahed Ali and Musammat Mujtaba Chowdury, Mahmud Ali lost his father when he was a toddler. His uncle, Moulvi Munawwer Ali who married the young widow, raised him like his own son and mentored him.

After his basic education in Sylhet, he obtained his Honours degree in English from Shillong (now in India). His dream of becoming a lawyer like his father and uncle, both law graduates from the Aligarh Muslim University. was however, interrupted by his involvement in the Pakistan Movement.

As a young man in his 20s, Mahmud Ali was already active in local politics, becoming, by 26, the General Secretary of the Assam Provincial Muslim League. In this capacity, he courted arrest along with thousands of others, protesting against colonial policies excluding Bengali immigrants from farming beyond a specified imaginary line. This was the notorious Line System. Upon release from prison, he successfully campaigned in favour of Sylhet joining Pakistan through the Sylhet Referendum of July 1947.

In 1952, Mahmud Ali was involved in the movement demanding the right of Bangla to be the national language of Pakistan alongside Urdu. When the police opened fire killing demonstrating students in Dhaka, he resigned from the Muslim League, which was the ruling party in East Pakistan. Later, Mahmud Ali was the first Cabinet Minister in the East Pakistan Government to sign an official document in Bangla.

In 1953, he co-founded the Ganatantri Dal, the first non-communal political party in Pakistan. With Ali elected as its Secretary General, and Haji Dost Mohammed Danish as its President, the Ganatranti Dal in alliance with like- minded political parties formed the Jugto Front (United Front) managing to rout the Muslim League government in the first general elections held in East Pakistan after independence in 1947. The new government led by Sher-e-Bangla AKM Fazlul Haq was however dismissed after 57 days in office through the imposition of Governor's Rule. Mahmud Ali was among the leaders arrested and imprisoned. His wife, young children and other members of his family were also later jailed.

After his release in July 1955, Mahmud Ali was elected a Member of the Second Constituent Assembly. In November, he was re-arrested and detained in Karachi under the Security of Pakistan Act, and subsequently in Dhaka Central jail until his release in January 1956. Later, he was appointed the Revenue and Prions Minister in the Cabinet of East Pakistan's Chief Minister, Ataur Rahman Khan.

In 1957, after resigning from the United Front government, the Ganatantri Dal joined forces with other progressive parties to form the first broad based All Pakistan Party, the Pakistan National Awami Party (NAP). When General Ayub Khan imposed Martial Law in 1958 and proclaimed himself President, Mr. Ali was in the forefront of the democratisation movement. He was a signatory to the famous Nine Leaders Statement, which challenged the abrogation of the Constitution by President Ayub, and called on him to restore the sovereignty of Pakistan. In 1969, he co-founded the Pakistan Democratic Party and was elected Senior Vice-President of the party. Headed by Mr. Nurul Amin.

Following the civil war in East Pakistan in 1971, and the invasion by India, Ali remained steadfast in his allegiance to Pakistan, convinced that the rights and safety of Bengalis could only be secured in a strong and united country. He led the Pakistan Delegation to the 26th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in 1971, securing the support of 105 out of 131 UN member states who held India aggressor in the war.

Upon creation of Bangladesh, he lived in Islamabad, never to return to his beloved Bengal. In whichever position he held in and outside the Government, he left an impact. As Minister of Overseas Pakistanis, Mr. Ali successfully negotiated with the British Government to allow immigrants of Pakistani origin to hold dual Pakistani and British nationality. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto gave him the rank and status of Federal Minister, which he retained until his demise in November 2006.

Seeing the media as a critical channel for social and political change, he and his wife, Begum Hajera Khatun, started publishing the Bengall language newspaper "Nao-Belal". This was proscribed between mid-1958 and 1969 by successive Pakistani governments. In 1980, he founded The Concept, an ideological magazine, remaining the Chair of The Concept Publication Trust and its Chief Editor until his demise.

For Mahmud Ali, politics and social development were interwoven. Thus in 1986, he founded Tahrik-e-Takmeel-e-Pakistan, a Movement dedicated to the completion of Pakistan according to the 1940 Lahore Resolution. Through this he spread his message of self-reliance and freedom from dependency on foreign aid agencies. He remained its President until his death.

He was courageous and compassionate, often at personal risk to himself. In 1950, when Hindu-Muslim riots broke out in East Pakistan he organized a Peace Mission in Sylhet, and succeeded in bringing the riot under control in Sylhet district. Incensed, the local administration put him under detention. It took the intervention of the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaqat Ali Khan, to have him released. A devout Muslim, he defended the right of Pakistani Christians (and other minorities) to live as equal citizens and promoted inter-faith dialogue till the end of his life. His relentless struggle for the rights of all people, won him accolades, including the Gadhafi medal for Human Rights and Peace.

On Mahmud Ali (1919-2006) under the series of Tehreek-e-Pakistan Key Mujahid" a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.20/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on February 18, 2020.

40 Years of Presence of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan. February 17, 2020 (2020-3)

1. Background and context:- In 2019, the international community marked 40 years since the beginning of the Afghan dieplacement. Entering the fifth decade of their uprooting. Afghan refugees are the second largest refugee population in the world and largest protracted displacement situation under UNHCR's mandate.

While mitions of Afghans returned to Afghanistan over the years, there have also been waves of displacement and migration to neighbouring countries and beyond. Although Afghan refugees are dispersed across more than 50 countries, nearly 90 per cent of them continue to be hosted by just two countries: the Islamic Republica of Pakistan and tran. With over 1.4 million Afghan refugees and a similar number of other groups of Afghan nationals residing on its territory Pakistan remains the world's largest host country of Alghan refugees (and the second largest rahuges hosting country worldwide)

Despite immense pressure on the infrastructure and national public service delivery ystems for the past four decades, associated with the protracted presence of millions of refugees Pakistan continues to generously host these refugees and uphold the principles of intemational refugee protection. The Refugen Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme, initiated and spearheaded by the Government of Pakistan in 2000, has benefited more than 12.4 million individuals, including both Afghan refugees and their Pakistani host communities.

The Government also remains committed to actively promoting solutions to the problem of displacement with the Government of Alghanistan and other stakeholders. The Goverment of Afghanistan, meanwhile, has denied the retum of refugees and other nationals as one of its key priorities, reflected the reintegration needs in its national development plans and processes, and identified "pronty areas of return and reintegration (PARRs),

The international community has supported these efforts, including through investments in the implementation of the multi-year regional Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSARI The SSAR focuses on voluntary repatriation, sustainable reintegration in Afghanistan and support for host communities among its principal elements. A dedicated SSAR Support Platform will be launched in December 2010, in line with the overarching objective of the Global Compact on Refugees, to operationalize international burden- and responsibility-sharing, including by creating new partnerships and better leveraging the existing ones for coherent and sustainable humanitarian and development respons.

2019 marked the 40 year of the Afghan refugee situation, as well as the 10 anniversary of the RAHA programme. These significant milestones provide a unique and timely opportunity for the international community to recognize the immense contributions made by Pakistan to the natugen causey to reflect and capitals on the achievements and lessons leamed thus far, and to explore opportunities for forging a new solidanty approach for the alamic Republica of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, building on the outcomes of the Glubul Refugee Forum and the launch of the SSAR Support

2. Objectives of the Conference:- Against this background, the Goverment of Pakistan, with the support of UNHCR is onvening an international conference that will seek to bring together high-level representatives of the Goverments of the alamic Republics of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan and the international community with a view to

(I)            Highlighting the generosity, hospitality and compassion of the Islamic Republics of Pakistan Iran, as well as other countries that have hosted one of the largest refugee populations in the world for four decades

(II)          Galvanizing greater support to establish conditions for voluntary repatriason and sustainable reintegration of refugees in Afghanistan, andincreased international burden- and responsibility sharing with host countries, in te with the SSAR and the Getal Compact on Refugees, and

(III)         Mobilizing engagement of a broader and more diverse base of stakeholders through the SSAR Support Platform and in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, with a view to leveraging humanitarian and development interventions to ease the pressure on host countries and create conditions conducive to return in Afghanistan

3. Outcomes of the Conference:- The Conference will produce recommendations, captured in a chairperson's summary, which will inform the SSAR Support Platform and complement the outcomes of the Global Refugee Forum and its folow-up processes

4. Format of the Conference:- The conference will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and be held over two days, consisting of a high-level opening s roundtables, a ministerial panel and other panel discussionstwo ministerial

On the occasion of High-level International Conference in Islamabad on 17-18 February 2020, To mark 40 Years of Presence of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Pakistan Post is issuing the Commemorative Postage Stamps of Rs 20 denomination each (Set of Stamps)

Kashmir Solidarity Day February 5, 2020 (2020-2)

The affinity between the people of Pakistan and Indian Occupied Kashmir is very old due to mutual ideological, religious, cultural and geographical bonds, 5th February is an expression of this indelible relationship. Solidarity Day is commemorated with a commitment by people of Pakistan to extend their moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiri brethren for their just right of self-determination as envisaged in the UN resolutions. It is also observed to eulogize the innocent Kashmiris, mercilessly brutalized and traumatized by Indian Occupation Forces. Puppet Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was forced to resign on 19 January 1990 and 'Governor Rule'was enforced in IOK under Jagmohan Malhotra, well known for hatred against Muslims/ Kashmiris. He straightway unleashed a new reign of terror. Indian forces launched so-called cordon and search operations in Srinagar and molested many women. As news spread, thousands of people took to the streets of Srinagar against this shamefully grievous crime of Indian Military. Menacing occupation forces under Governor's orderindiscriminately fired at peaceful protesters and killed over 50while injured hundreds of innocent civilians. These mass killingsof 21 January 1990 are one of worst massacres in the historyof Kashmir.

This carnage shocked Pakistan and a nationwide strike was observed on 5th February 1990. People overwhelmingly expressed solidarity with aggrieved Kashmiris and stressed upon international community to take cognizance of India's atrocious and inhuman attitude. Subsequent year, Government of Pakistan officially designated 5th February as 'Kashmir Solidarity Day', which has now become an important national ritual, when cross-section of Pakistanis renew their pledge of solidarity and unflinching support for Kashmir.

Governments as well as people of Pakistan have always stood firmly by their commitment to Kashmir cause. Pakistan's domestic as well as foreign policy has always been well disposed towards settlement of this dispute as per aspirations of Kashmiris duly mandated by UN resolutions. Kashmir cause has been top priority for successive governments hence raised at every national and international forum. India, which itself took this unfinished agenda of partition to UN, has been dillydallying its settlement as enshrined in UN resolutions of 5th January 1949. Rather, it embarked upon suppressing and muzzling Kashmiri men, women, children through massive presence of military and security forces under draconian law of 'Armed Forces Special Powers Act'. These occupation forces routinely employ torture, detentions, rapes and killings to silence the voices of freedom but in vain. Statistically speaking, last Thirty years have witnessed 95,478 Martyrdoms of innocent Kashmiris including 7,136 in Custody, while 109,449 Structures were Destroyed Damaged, 11,175 Women were Raped, 22,911 Women were Widowed and 107,784 Children rendered Orphans.

Scenario has worsened after extremist Hindu BJP assumed power in India. It started intermittently violating ceasefire along 'Line of Control' as well as ambitiously embarked upon a plan to assume power in IOK. Kashmiris were reeling under worst flooding but puppet regime in Srinagar as well as Delhi government went ahead to orchestrate yet another sham elections rather than providing rescue, relief and rehabilitation. Sagacious Kashmiris voted in large number to keep BJP at bay but it still became second largest party by winning in Hindu dominated Jammu region and vying to cobble an alliance now. BJP has a nefarious design to alter the status of IOK as a Muslim majority disputed region. However, Freedom loving Kashmiris are determined to resist and frustrate this evil design.

Foregoing in view, 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' is of immense importance this year, when egion is passing through a much tumultuous period. Kashmiris today need much stronger support of Pakistan so as to attain their right of self-determination, which remains an unfinished agenda of 1947 partitions and forgotten promise of international community. Kashmir Solidarity Day is being observed every year as such and the people of Pakistan and their sympathizers abroad hold programs to convey to the Kashmiris that they are not alone in their struggle for securing their right to self-determination.

On Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs. 20/- denomination on February 05, 2020.

100th Birthday of Shaheed Hakim Muhammad Said (1920-2020) January 10, 2020 (2020-1)

Born in 1920, orphaned at 2, brought up by a remarkable young widowed mother who kept her late husband's business running, mentored by his older brother (Abdul Hameed), young Mohammed Said, after his initial schooling, studied and trained in Unani (Graeco-Arab) Eastern Medicine, as did his brother. They both had before them the shining example of their father, Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed, who, though he died at only 30, had made a name for himself and the establishment he had set up in 1906-Hamdard. It has continued to live up to its name, which means 'sharer of pain' or 'sympathizer'.

Hamdard Pakistan, 1948:- Hakim Mohammed Said migrated to Pakistan in 1948, and established Hamdard in Pakistan the same year. His father's Hamdard had been a 1-room shop in Old Delhi, divided in two by a curtain. Hakim Mohammed Said too started Hamdard in Karachi in 2 rooms, rented in Aram Bagh. That matab is still operational- and, ironically, it was outside its doorstep that he was assassinated in 1998-ending his career in Pakistan where he had begun it. But 70 years after its birth, that clinic has been joined by scores more, till there is a nationwide network of free Hamdard matabs, where patients are examined and diagnosed without cost, and only the" very economically priced medicines need to be bought.

Waqf and then Foundation established:- A mere 5 years later, in 1953, Hamdard had already established a reputation for quality herbal medicaments and health-care. But instead of reaping the benefits for himself, Hakim Mohammed Said converted it into a Waqf, the profits of which were - and are used for Allah's work: charity, nation - building, and culture-promoting activities. Some years later in 1964, the Hamdard Foundation Pakistan was formed to take considered decisions about the disbursement of the Laboratory funds and lay down guidelines for Hamdard's activities, which continued to widen.

Hamdard Free Mobile Dispensaries:- In 1953, one vehicle was provided with free health-care facilities for the needy at their doorsteps, in remote areas of Karachi. Today, there is a fleet of 22 of these - each carrying a trained hakim and herbal medicines. They serve eleven cities of the country, and reach and treat over 450.000 people every year.

Hamdard Naunehal:- Also in 1953, Hakim Mohammed Said started publication of an Urdu monthly magazine for children. Its aim was 'infotainment' as well as character development - and unconsciously the young readers learn! good language skills. Over 65 years later it is still going strong! A provincial governor once side he had almost been brought up on Naunehall

Hamdard Tibbia College:- 1958 saw Hakim Mohammed Said's first venture into education. Today, it is known as the Hamdard Al-Majeed College of Eastern Medicine and forms a Faculty of the Hamdard University, offering a 5-year HEC recognised degree course in Unani medicine.

Shaam-e-Hamdard (1961) and Shura Hamdard (1995):- The former became one of the best-known and popular forums in the country, hosting seminars and lectures in major cities, every month. This was converted into Shura Hamdard Pakistan and continues as a platform for thinkers, writers, poets, and historians, discussing national issues, making recommendations for concrete steps, which are sent to concerned government departments.

Bazm-e-Hamdard Naunehal (1985) & Hamdard Naunehal Assembly (1995):- The former was converted to the latter. Children between 8 and 15 are given a forum to voice their thoughts on important issues. Not only doss this increase awareness, it is excellent training for confident self-expression. Well-known media and political personalities have emerged from these sessions. They are held monthly in major Pakistan cities.

Hamdard Public School (1987) & Hamdard Village School (1997):- One of Hakim Mohammed Said's most cherished ideals was to help in spreading education and not just subjects in the curriculum, but also a grounding in moral values and those cultural norms which were worth preserving. Focus on high standards of such an education was the purpose of establishing Hamdard Public School, with no more than 30 pupils per class, so as to ensure adequate teacher's attention. Excellent results in examinations bear witness to the success of achieving this goal. Pleasant environment and sports facilities add to the good experience. Not content with only catering to the educational needs of middle and upper classes. Hakim Mohammed Said started the unique Hamdard Village School for the children of villages surrounding Madinat al-Hikmah. Not only was the tuition completely free, but books, stationery, schoolbags, uniforms, and shoes were (and are) provided gratis. Vocational training is also provided. Starting from a suspicious and reluctant handful in 1997 the student numbers have swelled to over 700. Not just that, they have competed in inter-school events and won prizes!

Hamdard University (1992) & Bait al-Hikmah Library (1989):- Situated in Madinat al-Hikmah (City of Education, Science, and Culture), on the outskirts of Karachi, is the ever-expanding Hamdard University - the largest private. one in Pakistan. It has 7 faculties, also city campuses, and one in Islamabad. It is unique in offering degree courses in both eastern and allopathic medicine, and the first to recognize and give faculty importance to Information Technology (IT).

Hamdard University Hospital (1997) and other Hamdard ones:- Hamdard University Hospital (aka Taj Medical Complex) is not only a teaching hospital for its undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate medical students, it is a fully functional 300-bed hospital, providing the best possible treatment to patients at subsidized rates.

Hamdard also runs an eastern medicine hospital (ShifaulMulk Memorial Hospital) and Naimat Begum Hamdard University Hospital. In addition, it also contributes to other welfare organizations.

Other Hamdard philanthropic work:- Just a few examples of miscellaneous other charitable works engaged in by Hamdard and launched by Hakim Mohammed Said, are stipends for poor windows and needy people, different scholarships for meritorious and needy students, Blankets distribution among the poor families in winter, free ration in the holy month of Ramzan for needy families, and free patients scheme in Taj Medical Complex (total free treatment).

On 100th Birthday of Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said (1920-2020), a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.20/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on January 10, 2020.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations of OIC (1969-2019) December 30, 2019 (2019-8)

1. OIC is a 57-member body (along with five observer states). As an intergovernmental Organization, it is second only to UN in size. Its combined population is over 1.7 billion with GDP of US$19.4 trillion (8.2% of world GDP). Founded in 1969, this is the 50th year of OIC's establishment. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

2. The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent Secretariat in Jeddah headed by the Organization's Secretary General. Dr. Yousef Ahmed Al-Othaimeen is the 11th Secretary General who assumed the office in November 2016.

3. The first OIC Charter was adopted by the 3rd ICFM Session held in 1972. The Charter laid down the objectives and principles of the Organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States. Over the last 40 years, the membership has grown from its founding members of 30 to 57 states. The Charter was amended to keep pace with the developments that have unraveled across the world. The present Charter or the OIC was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008 to become the pillar of the OIC future Islamic action in line with the requirements of the 21st century.

4. The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.7 billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental Organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the Organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and has strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in all forms and manifestations.

5. OIC has a dedicated contact group on Jammu and Kashmir. Turkey, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Niger and OIC Secretary General are its members. Its meetings are held from time to time on our request.

6. Pakistan hosts two important OIC outfits. OIC's Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) is based in Islamabad while the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture(ICCIA) is located in Karachi, Pakistan is also member of governing boards of: (1) Islamic Centre for Development and Trade (ICDT) (Casablanca); (ii) Islamic University of Technology (IUT) (Dhaka); (iii) Research Centre for Islamic History, Art & Culture (IRCICA) (Istanbul); and (iv) Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqf (Jeddah).

7. In the 14th Islamic Summit, Pakistan was elected as Vice Chair of the bureau on behalf of the Asian Group.

Major OIC Events hosted by Pakistan

8. Over the past 50 years, Pakistan has hosted a number of key OIC meetings/Summits. These include:

a. 2nd Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, Lahore (22-24 February 1974)

b. 1st Extraordinary Islamic Summit, Islamabad (23-24 March 1997)

c. Four Council of Foreign Ministers Sessions (1970, 1980, 1993 & 2007)

d. Two extraordinary Council of Foreign Ministers Sessions (1980, 1994)

9. We are part of nine OIC contact groups (on Jammu & Kashmir, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yemen, Palestine, Muslims in Europe, Armenian aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan, Somalia, Friends of Mediation and Peace and Dialogue).

On the eve of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of OIC (1969-2019), the Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs. 50/-denomination and Sovunier Sheet of Rs. 250/- denomination are being issued by Pakistan Post on December 30, 2019.