By Yasser Latif Hamdani
Last week (February 6) marked the 114th Birthday of one of Pakistan’s greatest unsung heroes. Once again, there was no mention of commemoration of his remarkable like. No sense of gratitude from a nation for which he did so much. He has been wiped out of our memory because he was an Ahmadi, despite his glorious contributions to Pakistan and its cause (see related post on Dr. Abdul Salam).
Sir Zafrullah Khan’s services rendered to Muslims of India, Pakistan and the Third World are second only to that of Quaid-e-Azam Mahomed Ali Jinnah. As a jurist, a diplomat and a patriot he stood head and shoulders above the lesser men who have made a mockery of our republic.
Born in 1893 in Sialkot in what was to become one of the earliest Ahmaddiya households, this small town boy rose to be one of the shrewdest legal minds of his time. His early education was in Sialkot, after which he proceeded to Lahore for his bachelors degree, under the tutelage of none other than the great Iqbal himself. He got his law degree from King’s College London in 1914, where he stood top of his class and was the first person from the Indian subcontinent to do so. He was, like most great figures of that time, called to bar at Lincoln’s Inn.
As a practicing lawyer, he soon proved his mettle and had many reported cases to his name. The first major politician to recognize Zafrullah’s talents was Sir Fazli Hussain, the founder of Unionist Party of Punjab. Starting his career in his early 30s as a member of the Punjab legislative Council, he rose to prominence as an indefatigable crusader for Muslims of Punjab. Later he represented the Muslims at round table conference and crossed swords with figures like Jinnah and Gandhi. In 1931, he became the Muslim League president and at the roundtable conference, he cornered no less a person than Churchill in a committee hearing who was forced to accept Zafrullah’s point of view.
Later he was offered a seat on Viceroy’s permanent Council, which he took to further his cause. He also served at varying times as the minister of Railways, Public works, labour and law under the Viceroy. For a brief period, he also became British India’s representative to the League of Nations, just before it was dissolved.
However his greatest contribution came when he drafted the famous Lahore Resolution, which till this day is the rallying point of Pakistan and Pakistani nationalism. He had been tasked with finding a common point between the popular demand for “Pakistan” and Muslim League’s all India requirements. The Lahore resolution was a broad based solution which left the door virtually open for several solutions and negotiation on the issue of partition. In essence it envisaged 2 or 3 great republics for the Muslim peoples and it was this document which forms the basis not just of Pakistan but also of Bangladesh. For this he got a lot of slack. No less a person than Khan Abdul Wali Khan highlighted Zafrullah’s religious belief to play on the popular conspiracy theory that holds Ahmadis to be British touts.
Later from 1942 onwards, he served as a federal judge (equivalent of an Supreme court C judge) of India and finally took leave on the eve of Pakistan to serve the cause of Pakistan before the Radcliffe Commission, on Jinnah’s personal request. On 25th December 1947, Jinnah appointed him the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. At the UN, Sir Zafrullah emerged as the most eloquent advocate of all third world and Islamic issues. It was Zafrullah whose efforts materialized into the UN Resolutions on Kashmir, which are the basis of the Pakistani case and grievance. Later he became the first Asian president of the International Court of Justice, a singular and unique honor for any Pakistani. He also served, briefly, as the President of the UN General Assembly. He passed away in September of 1983 in Lahore.
A prolific author on the history of Pakistan and Islam, his most famous book was titled “Agony of Pakistan” in which he makes plain the great betrayal which wrested the country from the hands of its patriots into the hands of those who were its greatest enemies. Ironically, today Jinnah’s most trusted lieutenant is not even remembered by the state which owes him so much, including its own founding document. It is the memory of people like Zafrullah Khan that will keep alive the original idea of Pakistan and there is no doubt that one day the posterity will reclaim its true destiny as a progressive and modern republic.
Yasser Latif Hamdani is a lawyer in Lahore and a researcher of the history of the Pakistan Movement.
On the last few comments, I do not see where this site is promoting ‘qadianiat’. I do not see a single comment here or elsewhere that is telling people they should become ahmedis or evangelizing ahmedi beliefs. I do see a LOT of other comments every that keep doing tableegh and turning the rest of us into ‘better Muslims’ of their own dou-eenth-ki-masjid variety. There are many people here trying to get their sects spread and trying to shut up others.
Finally, I think these couple of comments questioning Adil’s religion or the intentions of this site are really really dispicable and in extremely bad taste. Anyone who has visited this long enough knows that this site is nothing but fair and incorporates ALL aspects of Pakistan (not just the ones that suit our maslaq). Whether it is Jinnah, or Edhi, or Salam or mosques, or bridges, or churches, or mandirs, or gurdwaras, or Eid or Muharram, or whatever. It is only those whose Pakistaniat is defined by their own narrow firqa who can raise such a petty and pathetic personal attack on someone who spends so much of his time on giving us an honest forum for debate. Even suggesting such allegations is shameful!
I agree with Adnan Siddiqui that this forum is becoming more discussing anti-islam thoughts and offending the majority of Muslims. Please focus on the issue and be courageous to absorb others opinions.
It is management’s responsibility to jump in and clear the mess which has been created by narrowminded people. As I said earlier, please close this topic here and lets move on.
I think it would be good for Adil Najam, the owner and very respectable for me and others to clarify that whether he’s allowing to promote qadyaniat or pakistaniat. Qadiyaniat is not Pakistaniat and if the theme of this forum has turned to promote qadyaniat under the umbrella of pakistaniat then I feel sorry for the owner’s project.
Adil has been writing about minorities of Pakistan for long time and I have often read him but nowhere Adil tried to offend other religions/sects of Pakistan and I am dead sure adil had no intention to offend majority of Pakistan by imposing miniroty sect in pathetic fashion but the irony is tht his website has become the hub of religion offenders.
I respect Ylh’s statment that he honestly admitted that brought sir zafar’s case just because he was a qadyani, no issue, Yasser has right to discuss things of his own choice but then yasser or like minded has no right to start complaining for different opinions. If you can’t tolerate oponents then admit openly ,you will be respected more.
@oldtimer: yes I mess and unlike Ylh, I wouldnt disagree with you but if you re genuine old timer then you should be honest enough about the mindset of this blog.who started things against Islam or anti-Mullahism? Read the very early posts of this blog which dragged me in when pakistanis start offending Islam indirectly by promoting their views. If you want to hear one sided story then sorry it’s not possible. Prolly i quit but then someone else would come to refute these people. This is the real world which you and others have to face. Same message for Ylh like people who cry like a baby and complain adil to ban their oponents. This is sign of lack of tolerence which they always associte with mullahs or any religious celebrity.
Whats wrong with this forum? why people are creating the topics and then divert them into another discussion? Sir Zafar Ullah Khan was one of many heros we forgot, Why we are talking about ONLY Sir ZafarUllah? or Dr. Abdul Salam? is it Ahmadi Forum? if it is plz announce it publically.
Am agree with Zeeshan that we shud not start abusing someone’s religion here, the reason why i like this forum is coz people here are mature enough and mostly talk on point, but from last some weeks am noticing jamaat e ahmadiyya is trying to gain sympathies by using great personalities.
Plz dun make this forum a religious war forum. Ahmadi ppl here need to understand that its not important to link every thing with ahmadiyyat. We respect ahmadiyyat, most of Muslim members are are not extremist, they treat ahmadies like any other human, Yea i dont and cant possibly agree with ahmadi beliefs, but ahmadies are Human, and we dont have right to abuse them and treat them badly. And for this its important that we dont talk abt ahmadiyyar Vs Islam.
I request all members to stop talking about ahmadiyyat, i request all ahmadis to please dont try to initiate discussions on ahmadiyyat, dont link everything with religion. First try to b good human, care for each other.
I want moderator to take notice of this, and next time if someone try to divert the discussion by saying that “coz he/she was ahmadi thats y he/she never gets wat he/she deserves” etc plz understand this is way to start a religious discussion, this is a ugly way to initiate a fight between two religions. This is getting really ugly. I request all Muslim brothers and Sisters to not reply in any thread initiated by any ahmadi where he/she is trying to use someone to prove something else.
And again i request ahmadi brothers and sisters to plz stop this attitude of being most innocent ppl in this world, spread love between ur religion and our religion, talk abt Unity. If Hindus and Muslims can be frnds, why not u and us? Remember whenever u try to talk abt religion “ahmadiyyat” ppl ll talk and ask lots of questions, and then i dont think its good for u or Sir ZafarUllah or Dr Abdul Salam or this forum.
Stay Peaceful.
[quote comment=”34160″]There are SO MANY other forgotten heroes, scientists and politicians of a calibre same as Zafarullah Khan and Dr.Abdus Samad,if not better.[/quote]
This is exactly what ATP is trying to do here ie bring these forgotten heroes out so we can all know about them. Credit to YLH that he made one such post. Perhaps you do one too?
That’s the issue, YLH. You don’t understand the point. WHY on earth are you bringing RELIGION in this forum by linking the crux of your article with Ahmadiat!! There are SO MANY other forgotten heroes, scientists and politicians of a calibre same as Zafarullah Khan and Dr.Abdus Samad,if not better, and to make your excuses worse for you, they are/were NOT Ahmadis. If you still don’t understand, you probably don’t want to break free from your fanatic shell.
I would ask the moderators to delete all inappropriate comments so we can start afresh, hopefully slightly better this time.
YLH, you *really* must learn to start ignoring idiots. Attention only encourages them.