KHALEEL YOUSUF SADDIQI

You and your organization are indeed doing a great job by offering your site for Free comments on historical events. I am now in my 79th year of life (born on Oct. 27, 1931). Was in Muslim University Aligarh from 1946 to 1951.  Got the opportunity of seeing Mr. Jinnah when he, for the first & last time came out of All India Radio station, after announcing the achievement & creation of Pakistan.  

Event # 1:-

I was not a Muslim Leaguer but a member of the PWA Aligarh Br. under the leadership of Moin Ahson Jazbi & Dr. Aleem. The famous Dr. Ansari was a Sr. Colleague. A.T.M. Mustafa    (a Bengali who later became a Minister in Pakistan) & Hasan Ata (President of Students Union, were my personal friends and used to like me because I was a very good Cricketer and a well-behaved boy.  It was on their insistence that I went to Delhi to listen to Mr. Jinnah. 

After the Historical Announcement, when Mr. Jinnah came out, MU Aligarh's students virtually picked him on their shoulders and the air was filled for so many minutes with slogan of 'Pakistan Zinda-bad' . Then some one asked Mr. Jinnah: “What about the Muslims in the minority provinces of India?” He, in his firm & sound manner, replied: "You should now live as peaceful citizens of Hindu India."   I after his departure when the mob was dispersing remarked, a bit loudly, that your leader has so quickly deceived you. Then some one, (most probably it was Mukhtar Masood,) tried to box me on my face, missed and hit my right shoulder ... the pain I still feel!   (Most probably all the Muslims of Minority provinces are also experiencing similar pain!!)   

Event # 2 :- 

In 1962, I married, Najma (died in 1995) daughter of  Late,K.B. Ziaul Hasan Alavi who was Chief Inspector and Director of Arabic Schools, U.P. India, (died in 1945) and had his Head Office in Allahabad. His house was on the Canning Road, next to the residence of Pandit Nehrus.  Najma brought with her a picture of Mr. Jinnah when he was invited for a Dinner by her father at his house in 1943, when Mr. Jinnah was in Allahbad to preside  Muslim League's Session. There are so many persons in the group photo, like Nawab Yousuf of Kanpur, Bhadur Yar Jang of Hyderabad, Deccan, and Mr. M.G. Quadir (Father-in-Law of Ahmad Sadiq, ex,CSP / Secretary Govt of Pakistan.).

In that picture, Mr. Jinnah is in white Share-wani, Chooree-dar Pajama and Jinnah cap. It used to be his regular dress OR he would be in full suit. After my marriage, I decorated my Drawing Room with that historical photograph to add to my Ego.  

One day my Brother -in-Law, Late Mr. F.M. Khan, who retired as D.G. Civil Aviation, a nephew of Moulana Zafar Ali Khan of Zamindar Akhbar, came to my house and saw this photograph and remarked: "What an overnight change in this man ! " I could not digest  his remarks and asked him to explain. He described:  “I am an Aligarian and before joining RIAF, was also a staunch supporter of Muslim League. At the time of Partition I was Airport Manager at Karachi and was in the team of dignitaries who received the Quaid at the Airport. I along with so many others who were there got shocked to see the Quaid dressed in Shalwar & Share-wani ...  a sudden change in his dress! ".  I still have that 1943 photograph with me. 

Event # 3 :- 

From 1969 to 1973, I was Managing Editor of Daily Newspaper, Kohistan which used to be published simultaneously from Lahore, Multan and Pindi. Aali Rizvi was the Editor. ( For name-sake, Naseem Hejazi was the Chief Editor). For the Lahore edition, I and Aali Rizvi used to sit late-hours to select & decide an appropriate caption (Heading). Both of us used to live in Samanabad so go together in my car. Very often to relax, we used to go to a Bar in Ambassador Hotel on Davis Road. There we always observed a very dignified, handsome aged man with grey-hair, sitting alone, reading some book and calmly sipping some whiskey. Watching that gentleman for a couple of weeks, we could not resist talking to him.  He gladly permitted us to join him and in the next couple of weeks, we gained his confidence, and came to know that his name was Gohar Rehman and that he was a retired Col. of the Pakistan Army. Then one night, he disclosed the following facts:- 

“That just before Partition of India, he was a Captain and was Staff Officer of Brig Shahid Hamid, who was ADC of General Aukin-lick, then Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. One day, it was in the first week of May ’47, he was summoned by Brig. Shahid and was informed that he was selected for a very important & secret mission. The C-in-C would personally explain to him the job so he should be in office by 5.30.p.m.  Brig. Shahid called him at 5.20.p.m. and took him to the office of the General. The General gave him a piece of typed paper and asked me to read it out loudly. It was a letter addressed to Mr. Jinnah.  

It was an advice that he (Mr. Jinnah) should not budge an inch from his demand for Pakistan. The Viceroy had instructions from the British P.M. for giving independence to India positively before December 1947 and that he should be back in London to celebrate Christmas there. As such he (Mr. Jinnah) should not accept any alternate offer. This would also give the C&C some time & opportunity to regiment the scattered Muslim Officers, Soldiers and Staff spread all over India and also to provide as much arms & ammunition as possible for the new country. 

Then the C&C advised me to read it out to Mr. Jinnah and NOT to hand over that note to him, remarking that he (Mr.Jinnah) was not a very trustworthy person and might use it to black mail. 

Then Brig Shahid took me in his car to some Banglow where Mr. Jinnah was waiting for us. Mr.Matlub Syed, Secretary of Mr. Jinnah, who had arranged this secret meeting received us and made us sit in a very well decorated Drawing Room. After a few minutes he came back and asked me to accompany him leaving the Brig. Behind in the D.Room. In another posh room, I saw Mr.Jinnah sitting in a chair next to a writing table smoking a cigarette. I was so impressed with his personality that quite unconsciously I saluted him as if he was some very senior army officer. Then I sought out his permission to read out the Message. As per instructions, I quite slowly but with a clear voice, read out the Message.  He heard the Message, kept quiet for a minute, passed out a few puffs of smoke, and then remarked:  “My thanks to your General for his advice. I can not delay the creation of Pakistan till December, ’47.”  Then he drew his golden cigarette-case close to him on the table and put his right hand’s first finger on it and remarked: “If this much Pakistan is available today, it will be acceptable to me.”   

Mr. Matlub Syed, Secretary of Mr. Jinnah, who had arranged this Special Meeting, asked me to give the letter to him which I politely refused explaining that I was ordered only to read out the Message and not to give the printed paper.   

(To be continued)