Daily Times

Honourable Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar:

With due reverence, I am taking the liberty of penning this entreaty to you for your perusal and kind consideration. I wish to bring to your kind attention an important issue that I had earlier raised with former Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Mr Imran Khan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar.

The entreaty that I had penned to the above high-ranking personalities of the country, vis-a-vis the issue that I am raising in this communication once again, unfortunately, for some reason, failed to merit their attention and consideration. The secretariats of the above dignitaries didn’t consider it necessary to even acknowledge my communications.

I sincerely hope and pray my entreaty vis-à-vis the matter under reference will be given due consideration.

I am now proffering my plea to you. It is my sincere hope that it will not only be considered earnestly but will also be granted given the significance of the matter under reference. Mr. Prime Minister, the matter that I wish to bring to your kind notice, through this communication, relates to a Veteran Statesman and one of Pakistan’s pre-eminent Freedom Movement leaders, the late Mr. Mahmud Ali.

Mr. Prime Minister, Veteran Statesman and Freedom Movement Leader Mahmud Ali’s name is synonymous with Pakistan. He lived for Pakistan and resolutely stood for its glory and integrity till his last breath. Mr Mahmud Ali’s contribution towards the freedom movement of Pakistan, and his ceaseless endeavours to build Pakistan’s image in the comity of respected world nations is known to all and sundry, within the country and abroad, like an open book. As his profile, available on Wikipedia, speaks volumes about his unparalleled contribution and sacrifices towards the cause of Pakistan, I wouldn’t reiterate them in this communication once again. It is considered pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Post has also published Mr Mahmud Ali’s self-explanatory profile along with a commemorative postage stamp issued by it on February 18, 2020, to pay tribute to him. This information, if I may inform you, is also available on Google.

Sir, the mortal remains of Pakistan’s Veteran Statesman Mr. Mahmud Ali lie buried in the H-8 graveyard of Islamabad, in a state of shameful neglect. You would appreciate, a person of his stature and repute who, as known to all and sundry, has made unparalleled sacrifices for Pakistan and has always stood for the cause of Pakistan with unwavering conviction, certainly didn’t deserve the dishonourable treatment that has been meted out to him after he departed from this utterly self-seeking world.

Throughout his profoundly compassionate life, Mr Mahmud Ali stood firmly with the subjugated segment of not only the Pakistani society but also the rights-abused and ruthlessly brutalized people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJK). He always passionately highlighted Pakistan and the Kashmir cause at all national and international forums. His representation of Pakistan, and address at the 26th session of the UN General Assembly in 1971, during the turmoil in East Pakistan, is worthy of special mention.

Mr. Ali’s unparalleled love and concern for the brutalized and subjugated people of IoJK cannot be overemphasized. His last words uttered moments before his death, “We will never compromise on Kashmir,” during his address at a school function in Lahore on November 17, 2006, stands testimony to this widely known fact. These words encapsulate his firm belief in social justice and the right of all people to live with dignity in a society that is free from exploitation.

Mr. Prime Minister, history stands testimony to the fact that no nation can rise to the height of glory if it consigns its founding leaders to oblivion. By not granting Pakistan’s Veteran Statesman and Freedom Movement Leader, the late Mr. Mahmud Ali the veneration and tribute that he truly deserves we stand liable for consigning him to oblivion.

I urge you Mr. Prime Minister to take cognizance of the issue under reference and bestow upon the late Mr. Mahmud Ali the veneration that is overdue. This, if I may suggest, could be done by taking the following measures: 1. Confer upon him Pakistan’s highest national award. 2. Build a Memorial in his name in the Capital. I sincerely hope and pray my entreaty vis-à-vis the matter under reference will be given due consideration.

The writer is a columnist and analyst based in Islamabad and can be reached at geniousfazal@hotmail.com