In 1977,a twenty five year old man began his political career addressing a crowd in Kahror Pakka. He was influential as his courage and humility impressed many. Mohammad Siddique Khan Kanju was born on the 2 December, 1951 in a remote village situated on the northern side of River Sutlej in Lodhran district Punjab,called Ali Pur Kanju.
Siddique Khan Kanju received his primary and secondary education from Sadiq Public School in Bahawalpur. After which he went to Government College, Lahore where he graduated with a B.Ain English Literature, then he obtained an LLB from Punjab University.
His strong personality clubbed with his pleasant nature and immense determination made him one of the country’s greatest civilian leaders,dominating his field for almost an entire decade.
Born in a political environment, he rose to prominence as a leader early on in his life.After completing his law studies he decided to enter politics from his home constituency KahrorPakka. In the general elections of 1977 he ran for the Provisional Assembly seat, however the elections were postponed.In 1985 he became the Member of the National Assembly through non-party elections, and served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture. However the government was dissolved in 1988 and he was appointed as the caretaker Education Minister.
Siddique Kanju for the first time became a part of the opposition headed by Nawaz Sharif,during the initial Benazir Bhutto government.In the general elections of 1990, he was elected for the third time as amember of the National Assembly from Lodhran and joined Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (1990-1993). During this period in 1991 he worked hard and was able to change Lodhran’s status to a district, which was previously a tehsil of the Multan District.
Siddique Kanju was perceived as one of the most successful members of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, however due to his extensive travelling as the Foreign Miniser and absence from his constituency he lost his National Assembly seat from Lodhran district, in the 1993 general elections.
During this period (1993-1996 )SiddiqueKanju spent most of his time in Lodhran.
His charismatic personality inspired his people greatly and is considered to have been a visionary leader. He gave his fellow country-men a new spirit, a sense of self-respect and a feeling of pride in their national heritage he was and still is considered to be much more than your average politician.
Though his time was mostly spent in airports and foreign capitals, his heart resided with his people in Lodhran
In 1997 he was elected again as a Member of the National Assembly on a PML-N ticket. Once again he became part of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s Cabinet, as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.Kanju was remembered for being a calm, patient and modest foreign minister.
Though his time was mostly spent in airports and foreign capitals, his heart resided with his people in Lodhran.He was known as a renowned diplomat globally, capable of pushing the Pakistani agenda; a pragmatic and practical leader with networks spanning throughout the world. During one of his visits to Afghanistan he was attacked by militants, narrowly surviving, and was highly appreciated for his courage and diplomatic handling of what could have damaged Pak-Afghan relations.He appealed to the Afghani groups to stop fighting,enforce ceasefire and resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations.Siddique Kanju’s personal attributes were the building of national consensus in key issues and a passion for inclusivity and consultation. He was immensely loved across the borders, for his remarkable represention of Pakistan across borders.
When Mian Nawaz Sharif left the country, Siddiq Kanju with his close comrades joined the new faction of Muslim League-Q headed by Chaudry Shujjat Hussain.During the local government elections of 2001,SidddiqKanju was once again seen actively campaigning in his constituency. On 28 July whilst delivering a speech at a Counsellor shop in KahrorPakka city, the spot where he gave the first speech of his political career in 1977, he was shot dead by four assassins at the age of forty-nine. His burial was attended by thousands of people, while the entire nation mourned and condemned this act, and the then President Musharraf labeled his death as a national loss. Today, seventeen years after his death Kanju still lives among the hearts of his people in Lodhran who remember him as their pride and leader.
An entrepreneur,who also has an interest in Creative writing.
Published in Daily Times, July 28th 2018.