Daily Times

Shamima Khatoon was 18-years-old at the time of partition. Her father-in-law was the President of the All-India Muslim League in Delhi. When the closely-knit, extended family decided to migrate to Pakistan, they flew into the new country by air and settled in Sargodha. However, having left a capital city, the family soon decided to move to the capital of the new country. In Karachi, they were warmly welcomed by Yusuf Haroon.

Shamima Khatoon had gotten engaged to one of her first cousins at the time of partition. At that time, women in her family used to observe strict purdah. Although her father had wanted her to get an education, Shamima’s father-in-law disapproved of the notion. In keeping with the times and societal norms, Shamima’s father-in-law threatened to break the engagement if she went to school. Hence, her father arranged for her education at home. He taught her mathematics on his own, whilst a widow was hired to teach her Urdu at home.

In Delhi, Shamima Khatoon’s family had seven houses at the time of partition. One member from each household had stayed back to send belongings left behind in Delhi to Pakistan later. Amongst those staying behind was Shamima Khatoon’s husband, who eventually migrated to Pakistan after sending over family possessions. The family had migrated to Pakistan only with a few suitcases.

Shamima Khatoon recalls that her husband was educated at Aligarh University. He was quite close to General Zia-ul Haq, since he was a member of Zia’s Sharia Court. “He had participated actively in the Pakistan Movement and later played a significant role as a member of the judiciary,” she says. Her father-in-law, Shuja-ul Haq, was the President of the Muslim League and had also contributed greatly to the Pakistan Movement. Going further back in time, Shamima says one of her ancestors had been a subedar during British Raj and he was awarded a sword in recognition of his services.

Published in Daily Times, July 15^th , 2017.