Obituaries and Press Reports

Obituary and Appraisal Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan (A. R. Mughal) Ch. Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, a key figure in the evolution of Muslim politics in the Indian Sub-Continent and a great servant of the renascent Islam, died on 1st Sept, 85 at the age of 92 at his home in Lahore after a protracted illness. He was born on 6th Feb. 1893 at Daska, District Sialkot and completed his preliminary education at the American Mission High School, Sialkat City. It was in 1907 that he joined the Government College, Lahore and after graduation in 1911, moved to the United Kingdom and studied Law at King’s College, London till 1914. He was called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn on the eve of the First World War. On his return to India in 1915, Ch. Zafrullah Khan started practising law first at Sialkot and subsequently at Lahore, the Provincial Capital. Here he met the redoubtable Sir Shahabuddin who later became the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and was one of the forerunners in the Muslim political awakening in the Punjab. Ch. Zafrullah Khan worked in the Chambers of Sir Shahabuddin for quite some time as deputy in the publication of the prestigious law journal ‘The Indian Cases’ and afterwards succeeded him as its editor. From these early beginnings, Ch. Zafrullah soon built up a lucrative practice and was almost at the peak of his profession by 1930. It was during this period of his brilliant career that he acted as Prosecuting Counsel in some highly publicised cases including the Delhi Conspiracy Case. This was in fact a prelude to his entry into the complicated world of Indian politics. Sir Fazli-Hussain who was indeed the pioneer of Muslim influence in the Punjab and founder of the Punjab Unionist Party in the inter-war years, soon recognised the exceptional intelligence, clarity of mind and persuasive powers of Zafrullah Khan, and made him his protege to advance the interests of the much backward Muslim Community. Here was a man who could serve the purposes of diplomacy so gently and silently as to be almost imperceptible amidst the mullah-infested Muslim masses. He was a professional to his finger tips and could provide endless topics for polite and interesting conversation without reference to anything delicate or controversial. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II, the second successor of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 3 Movement in Islam, beside being a great spiritual leader, was also a great connoisseur of human talents. His foresight, divinely gifted as it was to see through the unknown, had already made its choice regarding Sir Zafrullah Khan. Even while he was practising at Sialkot, the Khalifa had earmarked him for the important ‘amaraf of the Ahmadiyya Community at Lahore. This was primarily linked with the formidable role that this hitherto unknown barrister was destined to play in later years in the politics of India. Sir Zafrullah Khan was slightly upset in the beginning, being appointed Amir of the Lahore Ahmadis; especially so in the presence of such prominent members like Mian Chiragh-Din and Mian Abdul Aziz Mughal, of the Mian family of Lahore. (Tahdees-a-Niamat p 211). However, he soon realised the importance of the specific role for which he was being groomed by Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II and started planning his career accordingly. That he became a Judge of the Federal Court of India and held distinctive offices both in India and Pakistan and the international forum, in no way detracts from the fact that Sir Zafrullah’s meteoric rise to eminence was no less due to the guidance of his spiritual master than to anything else. The presence of Hazrat Khalifatul- Masih II at all the important bends of Sir Zafrullah’s career, gave an added dimension of excellence and personal involvement in all his achievements. Sir Zafrullah’s entry into the world of politics started really in 1926, when he became a member of the Punj ab Legislative Assembly. He was selected as a delegate to all the three round table conferences held in London in the early 1930’s, and on Sir Fazli-Hussain’s retirement from the Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1935, Sir Zafrullah Khan succeeded him as the Muslim member, initially assuming responsibility for Railways and Commerce. This was no mean achievement. Although his appointment was made specifically at the recommendation of Sir Fazli-Hussain, yet the change had been brought about as a masterpiece of precision and political artistry. Sir Zafrullah Khan being an Ahmadi, had already a record of public dissent on religious grounds. He would have been weeded out from the ranks of the politicians much earlier by the fanatics. But for his steadfastness and the high popularity rating among the liberal Muslim elements, the great furore caused by the mullahs against his selection might have been his undoing at this early stage. May be the Campaign of the Ahrari mullahs in 1935, armed at eliminating the ‘heretics’ had not yet become fashionable and it took another half a century to materialise in 1984. Be as it may Sir Zafrullah’s whole life is replete with attainments of which both India and Pakistan could rightly feel proud. Sir Zafrullah’s rise to eminence at this stage was not confined to the two important departments of Railways and Commerce. He was also called upon to represent the Governmentof India abroad at the Coronation of George VI, at the Dominion Ministers’ conference for preparations for the war in 1939 and subsequently at the United Nations. In 1942, he was sent as Agent 4 OBITUARY AND APPRAISAL General to the Government of India in China to open direct diplomatic relations between Delhi and the Kuomintang regime at Chungking. As the unfolding events amply demonstrated, this was the most crucial period in the history of the Indian struggle for independence. The leaders of the Indian National Congress were imprisoned at Poona as a result of the “Quit India Campaign” against the British Government. The Muslim League was gradually gathering strength at this juncture but with the exception of Quaide-Azam Jinnah, there were few ideologues and political thinkers among the rank and file of the Muslims, who carried any semblence of credulity with the people or the alien Government. There was no opening-up of the political process in sight and the stalemate was so confounding that had it not been for the untiring efforts of Sir Zafrullah Khan to keep the issue of Indian independence alive in the political circles in London, the future of India would have remained in the melting pot for perhaps another decade or so or even more. Sir Zafrullah’s primary instinct was to preserve the unity of India. He was in favour of a just settlement of the Congress-League tussle and hoped that a feasible solution was possible without partition. India a cradle of ancient cultures enriched with the Islamic religious philosophy for centuries in the past, could not be thrown away lightly to the gods of communal vengeance and hatred. It is the blatant falseness of what the fanatics have tried to do with religion that the stigma of intolerance has come to be so closely associated with Indian politics at all levels. Undoubtedly religion is a big factor in power-politics. It is very powerful but it is not the only one. There are things like the forces in society, things like peoples’ understanding of themselves which is not necessarily something to do with religion. In a nutshell, there are economic forces, there are political forces and there are social forces. Sir Zafrullah Khan never believed in the image of the Quran being in one hand and the gun in the other. This type of image was essentially a myth and was never to be adhered to. He did not always have his own way or not quite. He had sometimes to toe the party-line — that of the League Council. However, Sir Zafrullah Khan achieved a quiet but profound revolution in the character of Muslim orthodoxy. The remarkable thing was that he did it without apparently doing so and without public controversy. His public image throughout was that of a nice man, pre-occupied in theological tenets with a dry and frugal living standard. It might take some people to the brink of credulity if it was suggested that acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan by the Quaide-Azam in 1946, was mainly the result of Sir Zafrullah’s cold reasoning and judicious persuasion. It is not a partisan fiction. It is really the verdict of the contemporary historical events. For Sir Zafrullah Khan was never a man to stand apart or be last in line in any diplomatic events so common in London and elsewhere in those days. It was perhaps the truculence of some Hindu leaders which wrecked the Cabinet Mission Plan so REVIEW OF RELIGIONS ‘ 5 wilfully as to destroy all chances of Hindu—Muslim reconciliation in the foreseeable future. With acute sadness Sir Zafrullah now realised that he could no longer wrap himself in the silver-linings of a hopeful rapprochement with the Congress leaders. The final hour of parting had suddenly arrived. The breach with the idea of a united India had been rubbed home to him probably with such events as the Great Calcutta Killings and the massacre of innocent Muslims at Garhmuktesar. The acute communal strife had apparently eliminated anything different. Once it had been announced that Pakistan would come into being, Sir Zafrullah Khan resigned from the Federal Court of India, where he was then serving as a judge and opted for Pakistan. The political impact of this decision was enormous — not only for himself but also for the great religious minority to which he belonged. The twist was that the whole thing had happened so suddenly that nobody knew exactly who or what to blame for the unjustified and lop-sided division of the vital Punjab Province. Qadian, the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Community in Islam and the seat of the renascent Islam, had been so casually treated by the Radcliffe Award as could prompt only a very sad and negative view of the history of the British occupation of India. The Ahmadiyya Community had been thrown unceremoniously without any safeguards at the mercy of a people some of whom took pride in abiding by the law of the jungle. The attitude of the Muslim majority in Pakistan had varied with place and tune. Quite often the ‘faithful’ were warned not to exchange any sort of services with the Ahmadis but in fact to avoid them as a pollution. The dogmas and the ‘Fatwas’ of the mullahs harrassed the ordinary citizen at every turn but he accepted them as the very home and school of his growth, the vital medium of his life. Orthodox religion cast its awe and sanctity over every stage of development of the Pakistanis and no changes were favoured or feasible at any time. The law as explained by the elders in the past centuries was considered the only law, unchangeable, inviolate and undefined by posterity. It was a measure of the confidence placed in him by the Quaide-Azam that Sir Zafrullah Khan was asked to present the Muslim League case to the Commission under Sir Cyril Radcliffe, which was to decide the boundary between India and Pakistan. Pessimism had never dominated Sir Zafrullah’s arguments in the past. Despite some information that the Indo-Pak borders had already been demarcated on the British and Indian maps, he undertook this task and argued his case before the Boundary Commission to the satisfaction of all concerned — and especially the Quaide-Azam. What smacked of the genuine article in the beginning, turned out to be only a ploy to satisfy the needs of paperwork at Whitehall in London. Even during the debate before the Commission, the details of a confidential map of the demarcated areas in the United Punjab, had come to the knowledge of Sir Zafrullah Khan and of which he had apprised the Quaide-Azam without delay. 0 OBITUARY AND APPRAISAL But the march of events had been so quick that nothing useful could be done at that late hour. Gurdaspur District •— a Muslim majority area providing access to Kashmir — was handed over to India on a silver platter. Likewise, the area of the Sutlej Headworks contiguous to three Muslim majority Tehsils in Ferozepur District, also went to India. The award of the Commission was based on an extraordinary indifference to facts. It generated more issues than it had ever bargained for. Sir Zafrullah Khan was extremely critical of this judgement and in fact never forgave Radcliffe for this grave injustice. A weaker character might have crumpled. Sir Zafrullah Khan now became the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Throughout his life he had indulged in activities which built their own field of reference. It was a new experience for him, novel in a way that his previous appointments always had the protection of the Indian Government in the background. But the present situation was radically different. It was just like you could never know what you looked like before you were born. From the start, his important portfolio had rankled most in the minds of the Ahrar maulvis. The League Cabinet was outwardly quite neutral. But they could not by any means be regarded as indifferent to the f eelings of their co-religionists. However, the fanatics could not do much harm in the life-time of the Quaide-Azam. Most of Sir Zafrullah’s time at this juncture was spent in persuing disputes with India over Kashmir and the Indus waters. The Kashmir problem which later escalated into the first Indo-Pak war in 1948, produced some memorable clashes between Sir Zafrullah Khan and the Indian delegate in the United Nations and made the two men household names in international politics. His advocacy of the Arab Cause in the U.N. became a legend in itself and his name became so popular in Arab households that every man, woman and child was familiar with it even though not many of them had ever seen him physically. The condolence messages received from the Arab Heads of State on Sir Zafrullah’s death, are a fit homage to the memory of a man who loved the land of the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him) much more than he loved his own country. His selfless efforts to win freedom for Palestine, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria were un-matched for all-time. King Hussein of Jordon awarded him “The Star of Jordon”, the highest civil award of the country. The rulers of Morocco, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria followed suit and honored Sir Zafrullah with the highest civil awards of their countries. Sir Zafrullah Khan was a close associate of Quaide-Azam and was also a founding member of the Muslim League. He presided at the League Session held at Delhi in Dec. 1931 and delivered a forceful speech in support of the rights of the Indian Muslims. Throughout his life, Sir Zafrullah had fought for the poor and the down-trodden. According to the Ordinance of April 24,1984 issued by the Pakistan Government, here was a non-Muslim who until his last breath had done for the Muslims what few among the ‘Muslims’ themselves REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 7 had ever done for their own community. The Muslim League was not really popular with the British political elite for some of its alleged rigid viewpoints. Sir Zafrullah on many occasions interceded on behalf of the Muslims in the inner circles of the Government and it was for this reason alone that the British Government showed a soft corner for some of the League’s demands which otherwise could never have been entertained on merits. Sir Zafrullah always deprecated hasty actions and the League’s boycott of the Interim Government in early 1947, would have precipitated a collapse of the Muslim political strategy, causing incalculable harm to our national interests. It was Sir Zafrullah Khan who came to the rescue. He argued strongly with the League High Command for immediate modification in their uncompromising stand on the issue. In the final arbitrament, intransigence works both ways; harmful for friends and profitable for the foes. Sir Zafrullah’s views prevailed ultimately and the League accepted the interim arrangements. The delay of another week or so would have proved fatal to the Muslim cause. Important events were happening in the Punjab also. There would have been little or no Pakistan so soon if Zafrullah had failed to induce Sardar Khizar Hayat Khan to dissolve his powerful Unionist Ministry and hand over the reign of Government to the League leaders in the Punjab. The League High Command had never been happy with the affairs of the Punjab and the recent elections had failed to dislodge the Unionists from a position of dominance in the Provisional Assembly. The position was so critical that only a man of Sir Zafrullah’s stature could help. He came to Lahore in great haste and within the short span of forty-eight hours, the tables had been turned on the Unionists and the League was restored to its rightful place in the Punjab. History would bear out that this was the final act which made Pakistan possible and also avoided a sort of civil war among the Muslims on the eve of independence. True history would never forget this great feat of Zafrullah Khan and when the fires of fanaticism in Pakistan have died down, only then the real worth of this great Muslim patriot would be realised by the masses. A time would soon come when Sir Zafrullah’s name would be included among the few who conceived Pakistan and eventually made it safe for the posterity. In a society where Government, law and morality are bound up with a religious creed, anything opposing that creed is viewed as menacing the foundations of social order itself. Pakistan at present is being suffocated with Islamic ritual through a controlled media. But the core of our Faith is so clear that in the end those who try to manipulate it, would come to the end of the road themselves. God is prior to the world not only in time but in rank, essence and cause also. All other entities are contingent because their existence is not inevitable or indispensable. The people in power or authority should always keep this golden rule in view and should not take religious differences to a point of no return. History is remorseless and never forgets the ungrateful. It requites evenly. 8 OBITUARY AND APPRAISAL Sir Zafrullah Khan remained in the Foreign Office for nearly seven years. He acquitted himself of this responsibility to the great satisfaction of his countrymen. Against heavy odds, he handled the external affairs of Pakistan with exceptional ability and acumen. He never indulged in favoritism. His selections were always based on the principle that the right man was waiting to be found round the corner. All that was needed was the right set of clues to track him down. He had himself risen to great distinction on merits coupled with divine blessings. He was a great jurist and extremely rational. At the same time he was keenly religious and emotional in matters of faith and beliefs. Some time after relinquishing his appointment as Foreign Minister, he returned to the UN as Pakistan’s permanent representative. Shortly afterward, in a move which clearly showed the international respect that Zafrullah had achieved, he was elected President of the General Assembly, a job which was extremely selective and where he always took more care to do what he wanted and not to do what he did not want. He was always impartial and never showed his personal likes or dislikes in public. His tenure in the present appointment, was an era of friendly and cordial relations with the representatives of all nations. It was during this period that the Russians were so impressed by his fair dealings that they extended an official invitation to him to visit Moscow at his convenience. This was an extraordinary gesture from the Soviet Government and Sir Zafrullah accepted it with grace. Although he had held high offices before both in India and Pakistan, but his first preference had always been the Law. He never felt happier than when dealing with complex legal problems. After 1954, he had started an association with the International Court of Justice at the Hague. He was elected a member of the Court on two separate occasions but served from 1970-73 as the President of the Court. This was a signal honour for him as few before him had acheived the privilege of being the President of the General Assembly and the President of the International Court at the Hague. For a man of such distinction, Sir Zafrullah was remarkably unpretentious and accessible. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, (Peace be on him) had produced such men among his followers as the world had never seen before except in the days of the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him), Sahihzada Abdul Latif Shaheed, Maulvi Abdul Rahman and the young Niamat-Ullah Khan of Kabul, are some of the more prominent among the score of others who sacrificed their lives, properties, wives and children in the cause of Islam and Ahmadiyyat. They did so with smiles of triumph on their faces and complete disregard for all that was temporal and worldly. Sir Zafrullah Khan had an equal ranking in the Ahmadiyya List of Honours. Although he joined the Community at the tail-end of the Blessed era, yet he left behind many who preceded him in the long and arduous march of the Islamic dominance in the Latter Days. Through thick and thin Sir Zafrullah Khan toed the community line and never faltered even at the expense of grave personal risk and his REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 9 ever-rising political status. His words always expressed a wealth of ideas and a view of things and their connections that at times sounded as if they came from another world. He was very sensitive and a man of fine temperament. Opponents never bothered him and he always passed them by with a smile of tolerance. Dignity is available to Ahmadiyyat as it is available to every other sect in Islam. The filthy abuses hurled at Zafrullah Khan throughout his long career by a large number of Muslim divines did not deflect him from the path of duty. The Mullahs in Pakistan have become a symbol of the great moral degredation to which a nation of a hundred million people has been permanently reduced. But all this, we must forgive and forget for the sake of the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him) whom we all love more than anything else in this world. Sir Zafrullah Khan was a true son of Islam and he gave his best and finest to uphold what was according to the Quran and Sunnah. His greatest achievement in life was Ahmadiyyat which he served day and night till he passed away from this world. He was not only a man. He was a legend in himself. He waged a struggle of intellect, human values and religious ethics with a colourful of heterogenous politics. He greeted both friends and foes alike with smiles of welcome and was never averse to compromises. Not on principles and verities, but yes on variants and the changeables. Extreme clashes of beliefs and ideals, in private meetings, in mosques, in public squares, in universities, at festivals and funerals, highlighted his long march through life. All those who were united with him in spirit and character, would remember him always. He had lived in a peculiar style of his own. He always moved among people of his own choice, yet he was far away from his nearest and the dearest. His was an age which had been cleaved and disjointed in half between the haves and the have-nots. He had renounced comfort and abundance for the benefit of a single purpose — the cause of Islam and Ahmadiyyat and the good of the common people. He had a soft place in his heart for dreaming and pondering higher things, the meaning of life, the history of his native land and a burning and incessant urge for doing good was not through any intensified consciousness. It was because he had gazed with rapture at the blessed face of the Promised Messiah and taken the ‘Covenant’ at his Blessed Hands. Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan has now passed away from this world. He has left behind him a heritage of righteousness and dedication to duty as would sustain the young and old Ahmadis for a very long tune. May God bless him and bless his great spiritual guide and master — Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II — for without him, there would have been no Sir Zafrullah Khan as we know him. His funeral prayers were held in three different places — London, Lahore and Rabwah. Thousands of Ahmadis along with thousands of others outside the Jamaat, participated in his last rites and he was buried in the Bahishti Maqbarah, Rabwah at the feet of his beloved — Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II. 10 Muhammad Zafrullah Khan (llyas Khan) Choudhri Muhammad Zafrullah Khan passed away in Lahore, Pakistan, on the 1st September 1985. He was ninety-two. He was a Companion of the Promised Messiah — the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. Few have been privileged to reach such international heights. He was the only person to have been the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations and also the President of the International Court of Justice. At the same time he was a deeply religious and pious man of utmost integrity. Choudhri Sahib was born on 6th February 1893. He was called to the bar by Lincolns Inn after having obtained a first class Hons. Degree in law from King’s College, London. He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Council in 1926 and served until 1935 when he was appointed a member of the Governor General’s Executive Council till 1941. He then opted to go to the Bench of the Supreme Court of India where he gained the reputation of being the dissenting Judge. He resigned on the eve of Partition and was appointed Foreign Minister of Pakistan by Quaide-Azam Jinnah. He held this post with great distinction until 1954 when he was elected a judge of the World Court. He was Vice President of the Court from 1958-61. President Ayub Khan appointed him Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the United Nations and as a special mark of honor he was elected President of the 1962/63 session of the General Assembly. His presidency was unique in three respects in as much as all the meetings started punctually, no point of orders were ever raised during the entire session and the Assembly completed the agenda for the session in time. In 1964 he returned to the International Court of Justice and retired in 1973. He was President of the Court during the last three years of his tenure. This was, perhaps, the fulfilhnent of his mother’s dream in which it was revealed to her that Zafrulla Khan, son of Nasrulla Khan, will be chief Justice.’ Choudhri Zafrullah Khan was a gifted and eloquent speaker with a devastating wit. He always presented his casein a lucid and masterful manner. He never lost an appeal during the time that he practised as a lawyer in Lahore High Court. He was chosen by Mr. Jinnah to represent the Muslim League before the Boundary Commission on the Partition of India. His presentation earned him the personal accolade of Mr. Jinnah. While Foreign Minister, he established Pakistan in the international field and presented the Kashmir case at the Security Council with his customary eloquence which endeared him to the Pakistan public. His exposition of the REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 11 Palestine cause was a godsend for the Arab nations which earned him their respect and affection to the extent that Jordan, Syria and Egypt bestowed on him their highest civil awards. He worked tirelessly towards the independence of countries under the yoke of colonialism and was instrumental in bringing about the independence of Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Indonesia etc. King Hasan of Morocco described him as the greatest Muslim of this century, Choudhri Zafrullah Khan was blessed with remarkable parents. His father memorised the Holy Quran at the age of fifty. His mother who was a deeply religious woman was guided and blessed by Almighty God through dreams. He loved God and the Holy Prophet of Islam, and had great esteem for his mother whom he loved deeply. Choudhri Zafrullah Khan exercised extreme exactitude in all spheres of lif e. He never wasted time, words or money. He lived a simple — even austere life, but was extremely generous. He assisted a large number of students whose parents could not afford their education. He always lavishly donated towards appeals launched by the Supreme Heads of the Ahmadiyya Movement. He was endowed with.a keen intellect and a photographic memory. His command of English was perfect and to a great extent he employed his scholarly faculties in writing about Islam and the truth of Ahmadiyyat. He translated the Holy Quran into English and wrote many books and articles giving a brilliant exposition of different aspects of Islam. He spent all his life in public service but regarded the time after his retirement as his happiest. He devoted all his time to the service of Islam. He was a real servant of God, and happiest when participating in functions of the Ahmadiyya Community. The Community has lost a great Ahmadi who was an embodiment of Islamic teachings. The world has lost a great man who worked all his life for humanity and it has been Pakistan’s misfortune that the blind bigotry of a few deprived it of a great statesman. 12 Choudhri Sahib’s Funeral 3.9.85 (Selma Khan) I utter neither sound or sighs But tears are streaming from my eyes. He’s where he longed & prayed to be With his Creator in Eternity. He looks so well, I quickly note, As fierce emotion grips my throat. He’s put on weight, he looks aglow, His cheeks are pink —• I love him so. The Kalima still worn proudly on his chest, This ‘servant of God’ has passed every test. The room is packed with blocks of ice Red flower petals mirrored twice. The idea his soul still lingers here And fear of offending my friend so dear Compels me to discipline all thought And simply pray as we are taught. Memories haunting but very sweet Of what he’d say to those he’d meet, And how he’d tease and how he’d greet. He’d spoken of his father & brother And the long awaited reunion with mother. For years he’d prepared me for all this And allowed me to know, for him, it would be bliss. Despite the hours we’d talked this way / still was not ready for this day. I rejoiced for him for his freedom at last But for those of us left an era had passed. We all I’m sure felt that now dimmed Was our light But now he would taste the gardens delight. I kiss his forehead as I leave; Its icy! — he’s dead! I now believe! Farewells are tough, but this one is bad. I must brainwash my self to feel happy-glad. Forget my personal sorrow and pain I had so much — must not complain; REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 13 For 18 years he’s been my friend. Just because he’s dead it doesn’t end. Love and prayers go on for ever Like adding to a precious treasure. I’m driven to the polo ground for his funeral prayer. I stay in the car as no ladies are there. A large silent crowd, prayers over we leave And with his coffin behind us through traffic we weave. A police guard escorts throughout the way And Rabwah is reached in the heat of the day. His last journey to Rabwah, I’m so glad I could come. And witness the last rites so beautifully done. The crowds queue to see him Bid salams and farewell. How much he is loved is so easy to tell. Just after 7pm the prayer takes place; I sit in the car with my veil covered face. Then off to the graveyard in crowds they all go And this silent witness is also taken to show. It’s dark in the graveyard And crowded the scene; We quietly drive through it It’s unreal — it’s a dream! Oh greatful delight! he’s laid here inside Along with Khalifas and friends who have died. I watch as the bricks are laid firm and neat And concrete is added and then plastic sheet. A few old Sahaba throw soil on the ground And soon there’s a heap, a quite sizeable mound, We all pray in silence and the crowds move away. His family take care of me as they have done all day. And back to the guesthouse, for a while I’m alone And at last I indulge in a low anguished moan. The three days are over — his soul at last free. Tears flow now unchecked but Relief brings to me. Oh darling I’ll miss you •—• but love you the same And pray in the next life I can meet you again. 14 Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan Distinguished Pakistani Statesman Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, KCST, the first foreign minister of Pakistan from 1947 to 1954, and a former President of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, died on September 1 at Lahore. He was 92 and one of the last surviving eminent men of public affairs of his generation. He held high public office in the days of Empire as a member of the Viceroy’s Council, and after independence achieved international recognition not only as a spokesman for Pakistan but also as President of the UN General Assembly and as an international jurist. Chaudhri Muhammad Zafrulla was born on February 6, 1893, in the Sialkot district of Punjab. Though his was a cultivator’s family, his father had made his name as a lawyer, a profession in which his son soon excelled him. Zafrulla was educated at an American mission school in Sialkot and at Government college, Lahore. Subsequently he studied law at King’s College, London and was called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn on the eve of the First World War. On his return to India, he began to practise with his father at Sialkot, but it was not long before he moved to Lahore, the provincial capital, where he worked in the chambers of Sir Chaudri Khan Bahadur Shahabuddin, who was later Speaker of the Punjab Assembly. Shahabuddin was the editor of the prestigious law journal Indian cases and Zafrulla served first as his deputy and later as his successor. From these early beginnings he soon built up a lucrative practice, and by the 1930s, at the peak of his profession, he commanded considerable fees and acted as prosecuting counsel in some highly publicised cases, including the Delhi conspiracy case. His entry into the world of politics came through the patronage of Fazl-i-Husain, who recognized in him a man of exceptional intelligence, clarity of mind and persuasive powers. Fazl-i-Husain, the founder of the Unionist party which dominated Punj ab politics under the aegis of the British Raj in the inter-war years, regarded Zafrulla as his most trusted lieutenant, and it was for this reason that he found himself representing the Unionist party and wider Muslim interests in the crucial years when the Government of India Act of 1935 was being framed. SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN 15 He entered the Punjab legislature in 1926; he was a delegate to all three round table conferences held in London in the early 1930s; and on Fazl-i-Husain’s retirement from the Viceroy’s Council in 1935, he was asked to succeed him as the Muslim member, initially assuming responsibility for railways and commerce. As a member of the Viceroy’s Council, Zafrulla was not only involved in supervising these two important departments. He was also called upon to represent the Government of India abroad, at the Coronation of George VI, at the Dominion Ministers’ conference which discussed preparations for war in 1939, and at the United Nations. In 1942, he was sent as Agent General to the Government of India in China to open direct diplomatic relations between Delhi and the Kuomintang regime at Chungking. By this stage, with the Indian National Congress locked in confrontation with the Government of India over the Quit-India movement and the Muslim League emerging strongly with the demand for Pakistan, the future of India was in the melting pot. Zafrulla’s instinct was to preserve the unity of India. He wanted a just settlement of Muslim demands but he hoped that would be possible without partition. For this reason, he was relieved when the Congress and the League agreed in 1946 to accept the Cabinet mission plan and highly critical of Pandit Nehru for later sabotaging it. Once it had been announced that Pakistan would come into being, however, he resigned from the Federal Court, where he had been serving as a judge, and opted for Pakistan. It was a measure of the confidence placed in him by the leader of the Muslim League, Mr. Jinnah, that he was asked to present the league’s case to the Commission under Sir Cyril Radcliffe which was to decide the boundary between the two states. Despite pressures of time, Zafrulla undertook this task almost singlehanded, though from the beginning he had reservations about Radcliffe’s appointment and was later very critical of the award itself. He believed it favoured India by allotting to it both Gurdaspur district, which provided access to Kashmir, and the sub-district of Ferozepur which gave India control of the headworks of the Sutlej. As the first foreign minister of Pakistan, Zafrulla spent much of his time pursuing disputes with India over Kashmir and the Indus waters. The Kashmir dispute, which led to war between India and Pakistan in 1948, produced some memorable clashes between Zafrulla and Khrishna Menon at 16 SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN the United Nations, and made the two men household names throughout the Subcontinent at that time. Zafrulla worked hard to secure a UN resolution in favour of a plebiscite of the disputed territory, but despite UN efforts ‘to give it effect, it ultimately remained a dead letter, as India progressively integrated the area under its control into the Union. Zafrulla later renewed his acquaintance with the UN when in 1961 at the request of President Ayub Khan he returned as Pakistan’s permanent representative. In 1962, in a move which signalled the high international reputation he had achieved, he was elected President of the General Assembly, a job to which he brought gifts of organisation and conciliation which ensured him a smooth and popular term. Though he had achieved very high office in government both before and after independence, Zafrulla’s first love was the law. He did not care for the cut and thrust of party politics, and was never happier than when dealing with complex legal problems. In the years before 1947 he had served as a judge of India’s Federal Court, and after 1954 he began a long association with the International Court of Justice at The Hague. He was elected a member of the court on two separate occasions and from 1970-73 served as the court’s president. For a man of such distinction, Zafrulla was remarkably unpretentious and accessible. He was a man of deep religious convictions and spent much of his retirement writing on religious themes. As a member of the Ahmadi sect, however, he was deeply pained by the decision of the Pakistan National Assembly in 1974 under Mr. Bhutto’s government to declare the sect non-Muslim, and in his later years he visited the country infrequently, preferring instead to remain in England where he lived at the headquarters of the community in Putney. The Times, Wednesday September 4, 1985 17 Life Sketch Chaudhry Mohammad Zafrulla Khan, the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, was born in Daska, District Sialkot, on February 6, 1893. He graduated in 1911 from Government College, Lahore. He was the oldest ‘Ravian’. He studied at Lincoln’s Inn, and was called to the Bar in 1914. He was Member, : Punjab Legislative Council from 1926 to 1935, Member, Governor General’s i Executive Council in India from 1935 to 1941, and Senior Judge of the Federal Court of India from 1941 to 1947. He had the distinction of becoming the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan (1947-54). He was personally appointed by the Quaid-i-Azam. He was elected Judge of International Court of Justice 1954-61, was Vice President of the World Court from 1958 to 61, and then its President from 1970 to 73. He • was the Chief Representative of Pakistan to the UN and became President of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1962-63. He was the only person ever to become both President of the UN General Assembly and President of the International Court of Justice. He was one of the founder-members and pioneers of the All-India Muslim \. He was President of the All-India Muslim League in 1930, and remained closely associated with the Quaid-i-Azam, Mr Liaquat Ali Khan and other Muslim League leaders from 1925 to 1947, throughout the turbulent period of the Muslim’s struggle for independence in India and the achievement of Pakistan. He was specially nominated by the Quaid-i-Azam to represent Pakistan in early 1947 at the United Nations to support the cause of Palestine, for which he earned plaudits from the Arabs and, as an acknowledgement of his achievements, King Hussein of Jordan awarded him the “Star of Jordan”, the land’s highest civil award, and Tunisia and Morocco honoured him with their highest civil awards, too. Similar awards were bestowed upon him by Algeria, Libya and Syria. His singular and selfless efforts helped Libya, Algeria and Tunisia gain their independence. His efforts in connection with the Palestine problem and independence of the Muslim countries of Africa and Middle East have been repeatedly acclaimed by Muslim scholars in general and Middle East scholars and diplomats in particular. He was the author of 18 books on different subjects ranging from politics to international law and religion. These books were mostly published by reputed publishers of Britain and the United States. He wrote two autobiographies, one in English and the other in Urdu. His translation in English of the Holy 18 LIFE SKETCH Quran has been greatly acclaimed in the West. Among his better-known books are ‘The Agony of Pakistan’, ‘Servant of God’, ‘Islam: Its Meaning For Man’ and ‘Pilgrimage to the House of Allah,’ etc. He was one of the most distinguished members of the Ahmadiya community. The Daily Jang, London, Wednesday September 4, 1985 Purity – Key to the Quran One of many characteristics of the Quran which marks it as the Word of God is that to arrive at the comprehension of its deeper meaning and significance, the seeker must, in addition to a certain degree of knowledge of the language and the principles of interpretation, cultivate purity of thought and action. The greater the purity of a person’s life, the deeper and wider will be his comprehension of the meaning of the Quran (56:80) (SirZafrulla Khan) Man Reaps What He Sows Allah does not wrong anyone; man wrongs himself. ‘Allah wrongs not people at all, but people wrong themselves’ (10:45). ‘Allah would not wrong them, but they wronged themselves’ (9:70; 29:41; 30:10). Allah gives man his choice, and as he sows he reaps.’ Whoso desires the harvest of the hereafter, we give him increase in his harvest, and whoso desires the harvest of this world, We give him thereof, but in the hereafter he has no share’ (42:21) (SirZafrulla Khan) 19 Zafarullah dies at 93 LAHORE, Sept 1: Chaudhry Sir Mohammad Zafarullah Khan, first Foreign Minister of Pakistan (1947-54), died here today at 8.45 a.m. because of kidney failure. He was 93. Sir Zafarullah, who used to spend his summers in England and winters in Pakistan after his retirement as the President of the International Court of Justice, in 1973, had been staying with his only daughter, Mrs Hamid Nasrullah Khan, for the last one and a half years. His health began to decline on July 20 last, when he had an attack of bronchial pneumonia. On July 24 he went into a coma and remained unconscious or semi-conscious till July 30. However, under the treatment of a board of doctors, comprising Dr Wassim Ahmed, Dr Mehmoodul Hasan and Dr Noorul Hasan, he recovered considerably. All through his treatment he stayed at home. According to his private secretary, Mr. Aijazul Hamid, his blood pressure suddenly dropped last night and his kidneys stopped functioning. Hundreds of people rushed to the residence of his son-in-law as the news of Sir Zafarullah’s death spread in the city. They were allowed to file past the body to pay their last respects to the great jurist and scholar. His Namaz-e-Janaza will be offered at 09.00 am on Tuesday (Sept 3rd) at 93 Khurshid Alam Road, Lahore Cantt. Burial will take place at Rabwah the same day in the afternoon, according to PPI. CHAUDHRY Mohammad Zafrulla Khan, the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, was born in Daska, District Sialkot, on February 6, 1893. He graduated in 1911 from Government College, Lahore. He was the oldest ‘Ravian’. He studied at Lincoln’s Inn, and was called to the Bar in 1914. He was Member, Punjab Legislative Council from 1926 to 1935, Member, Governor General’s Executive Council in India from 1935-1941, and Senior Judge of the Federal Court of India from 1941 to 1947. He had the distinction of becoming the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan (1947-54). He was personally appointed by the Quaid-i-Azam. He was elected Judge of International Court of Justice 1954-61, was Vice President of the World Court from 1958 to 1961, and then its President from 1970-73. He was the Chief Representative of Pakistan to the U.N. and became President of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1962-63. He was the only person ever to become both President of the U.N. General Assembly and President of the International Court of Justice. 20 ZAFARULLAH DIES AT 93 He was one. of the founder-members and pioneers of the All-India Muslim League. He was President of the All-India Muslim League in 1930, and remained closely associated with the Quaid-i-Azam, Mr Liaquat Ali Khan and other Muslim League leaders from 1925 to 1947, throughout the turbulent period of the Muslims’ struggle for independence in India and the achievement of Pakistan. He was specially nominated by the Quaid-i-Azam to represent Pakistan in early 1947 at the United Nations to support the cause of Palestine, for which he earned plaudits from the Arabs and, as an acknowledgement of his achievements, King Hussein of Jordan awarded him the “Star of Jordan”, the land’s highest civil award, and Tunisia and Morocco honoured him with their highest civil awards, too. Similar awards were bestowed upon him by Algeria, Libya and Syria. His singular and selfless efforts helped Libya, Algeria and Tunisia gain their independence. His efforts in connection with the Palestine problem and independence of the Muslim countries of Africa and Middle East have been repeatedly acclaimed by Muslim scholars in general and Middle East scholars and diplomats in particular. He was the author of 18 books on different subjects ranging from politics to international law and religion. These books were mostly published by reputed publishers of Britain and the United States. He wrote two autobiographies, one in English and the other in Urdu. His translation in English of the Holy Quran has been greatly acclaimed in the West. Among his better-known books are The Agony of Pakistan,’ ‘Servant of God’, ‘Islam: Its Meaning For Man’ and ‘Pilgrimage to the House of Allah,’ etc. He was one of the most distinguished members of the Ahmadiya community and a companion of the founder of the community. He leaves behind a daughter, Begum Hamid Nasrullah, who is married to his nephew, Chaudhry Hamid Nasrullah Khan, a well-known figure in business and social circles of Lahore and the head of the Ahmadiya community there, along with four grandsons and one granddaughter. Daily Dawn, Karachi, 3rd Sept 1985 21 Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan (Editorial) In the death of Chaudhry Mohammad Zafrulla Khan, Pakistan’s first Foreign Minister and ex-Judge of the International Court of Justice, the country has lost one of its most distinguished and internationally known figures. Born in Daska, a district of Sialkot, in 1893, Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan had a long and eventful public career. An associate of the Quaid-i-Azam and a founding member of the All-India Muslim League, Zafrulla Khan was closely associated with League politics during the critical period prior to independence. After the creation of Pakistan he was appointed Ambassador at large by the Quaid and then Pakistan’s first Foreign Minister, in which capacity he served the country for long seven years. During this period he had to deal with many delicate issues, especially the Kashmir and Palestinian problems, at the United Nations and other international forums and despite very many odds, he handled them with exceptional ability and acumen. It was during his tenure as Foreign Minister that Pakistan entered SEATO — an act which put the country firmly in the Western bloc in the era of the Cold War. One of the most controversial decisions of the time, it was a move that was to have long-term repercussions for the country. Chaudhry Zafrulla’s really memorable achievements were, however, at the United Nations. It was there that he earned the abiding respect and admiration of the Arab and other Muslim nations as defender of their interests in defence of the Palestine cause won him ‘The Star of Jordan’. He was similarly honoured by Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Syria for his tireless role in championing the cause of the independence of many Muslim countries in Africa and the Middle East as a mark of recognition of his outstanding stature as a statesman and diplomat, he was elected President of the UN General Assembly in 1962—63. In 1954 he became a judge of the International Court of Justice in which capacity he served till 1961. He was also the Vice-President of the World Court from 1958 to 1961 and then its President from 1970 to 1973. Apart from his achievements in the political and legal field, Sir Mohammad Zafrulla Khan earned a place for himself as a scholar. He was the author of 18 books on a wide range of subjects which have enjoyed circulation in a number of countries. His two autobiographies one in English and the other in Urdu — are a good addition to political literature since these present interesting insights into many events and developments which had a bearing 22 CHAUDHRY ZAFRULLA KHAN on the struggle for independence. His last few years were spent in comparative retirement because of ill-health. In his death the country has lost a distinguished citizen and another living link with a special phase in the Muslim struggle for independence. Daily Dawn — Karachi, 3rd Sept 1985. Kindness Towards Wife and Children Any normal decent man should behave kindly and affectionately towards his wife and children out of a natural urge and also because such behaviourwould makeforharmony and happiness in the home. A Muslim should do so because it would win him the pleasure of Allah and any default in that respect would bring Allah’s displeasure upon him. ‘Consortwiththem in kindness. Ifyou dislike them, itmay bethat you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good’ (4:20). ‘Of His signs it is that He has created mates for you of your own kind that you may find peace of mind through them, and he has put love and tenderness between you. In that surely are signs for a people who reflect’ (30:22). The Holy Prophet has said: The best of you is he who behavies best towards the members of his family. He emphasized that one who earns an honest livelihood and utilizes it for the proper upbringing of his family for the love of Allah will find that every morsel he provides for them is rated as charity and worship. (SirZafrulla Khan) 23 Zafrulla laid to rest in Rabwah (Dawn Lahore Bureau) LAHORE, Sept 3: Sir Zafrulla Khan was laid to rest in Rabwah on Tuesday evening in the presence of thousands of people, some of whom had travelled hundreds of miles to reach the headquarters of the Ahmadiya community about 140 kilometers west of here. According to information made available by the city office of the community, about one hundred thousand people j oined the funeral prayers at Rabwah, where Sir Zafrulla’s body was taken in an ambulance. People were allowed to file past the body for four hours at Rabwah. Delegates from foreign countries, including the United States, Britain, West Germany, Bangladesh and a number of African States, also attended the burial. Earlier, funeral prayers were offered for the departed leader at the Polo Ground here. They were attended by thousands of people. The prayers at Lahore were led by Mr Hameed Nasrulla, Sir. Zafrulla’s son-in-law and nephew, and Amir of the Lahore District Ahmadiya Community. Condolence books have been opened in Ahmadiya missions all over the world. Many dignitaries visited Sir Zafrullah’s resident to sign the condolence book. King Hussein Of Jordan sent a condolence message through his Ambassador in Pakistan, Hajj Hassan, who visited Sir Zafrulla’s residence. He wrote in the condolence book: “I am directed by King Hussein to representhim andhis Government in the last rituals of Sir Zafrulla Khan, who was a great man. His services for the Arab people, particularly the Palestinians and Jordanians, are unforgettable.” Mr Jehangir Badar, the Punjab President of the Pakistan Peoples Party, visited the residence of the late jurist and recorded his sentiments on behalf of the party in the condolence book. He wrote, “Sir Zafrulla Khan, one of the presidents of the All India-Muslim League, was a great man who rendered meritorious services for his country and its people.” Similarly, Mr Mohammad Hanif Ramay, the President of the Pakistan Musawaat Party, recalled his role in the creation of Pakistan as a close associate and confidant of the Quaid-i-Azam. Dawn •—• Karachi 24 Zafrulla’s funeral rites (By a Staff Reporter) A large number of people attended the last rites of Sir Ch. Mohammad Zafrulla Khan, first Foreign Minister of Pakistan and a prominent leader of Ahmadia Community at the Polo Ground, Lahore Cantonment on Tuesday morning. According to a Press release, issued by the Ahmadia Community the funeral rites were attended by approximately 30,000 persons, including high officials of the Punjab Government. The Ambassador of Jordan in Pakistan, Maj.-Gen. Haj Hassan, presented a floral wreath. Anumber of delegates fromU.S.A., U.K., West Germ any, Bangladesh and African countries also attended the last rites, the Press release added. Ch. Zafrulla was later buried at Rabwah. Pakistan Times, Lahore The Presence of God The consciousness of living every moment of one’s life in the sight of God is the most effective deterrent against wrong doing and the most potent incentive toward righteous action. (Sir Zafrulla Khan) 25 Ch. Zafrulla Khan passes away (Bureau Report) LAHORE, Sept. 1: Sir Mohammad Zafarullah Khan first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, died here this morning after a protracted illness. He was 93. Sir Zafarullah Khan was residing with his daughter in Lahore. He was suffering from pneumonia and had been ailing for a long time. His condition became critical last month when he went into a coma. His funeral prayers will be held at 93 Khurshid Alam Road, Lahore Cantt., on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 9.00 a.m. His body will be taken to Rabwah for burial. During his illness, the heads of many Muslim and other countries, sent special messages enquiring about his welfare and praying for his recovery. Sir Zafrulla Khan was born in Daska, district Sialkot. He graduated with honours in 1911 from the Government College, Lahore, and was thus one of the oldest surviving “Ravians”. He did his LL.B. from London University and was called to the Bar from Lincoln’s Inn 1914. He was member of the Punjab Legislative Council from 1926-35, Member, Governor General’s Executive Council from 1935-41 and Judge of the Federal Court of India 1941-47. He pleaded Pakistan’s case before the Boundary Commission at the behest of the Quaid-i-Azam in 1947. He earned the distinction of being the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan in which capacity he served from 1947-54. He was Judge of the International Court of Justice from 1954-61 and was its Vice President from 1958-61. As the Chief Representative of Pakistan in the UNO from 1961-63 he earned a singular laurel for his country by being elected President of the General Assembly of the UN in 1962-63. He was again elected to the International Court of Justice in 1964 and served as its president from 1970-73. He was thus the only Pakistani to serve both as President of the General Assembly and the International Court of Justice. He was specially nominated by the Quaid-i-Azam to represent Pakistan in early 1947 in the United Nations where he most ably presented the Kashmir case and pleaded the cause of Palestinian Muslims for which he earned the lasting gratitude of the Arab world. As an acknowledgement of his achievement, King Hussain of Jordan awarded him “The Star of Jordan”. The rulers of Tunisia and Morocco also honoured him with their highest civil 26 CH. ZAJBRULLA KHAN PASSES AWAY awards along with Algeria, Libya and Syria who too bestowed upon him similar awards. He was a renowned author of numerous books on different subjects ranging from politics to international law and religion. He had the distinction of publishing an English translation of the Holy Quran which has been greatly acclaimed in the West. Other famous books of his are (1) The Agony of Pakistan, (2) Servant of God, (3) Islam •— Its Meaning for Modern Man, (4) Pilgrimage to the House of Allah. He was one of the most distinguished members of the Ahmadiya community. Ch. Zafrulla Khan was one of the founder members of the All India- Muslim League and was elected as its President in 1930. He remained closely associated with the Quaid-i-Azam, Quaid-i-Millat and other Muslim League leaders from 1925 to 1947. He leaves behind one daughter, Begum Hamid Nasrullah, married to his nephew, Ch. Hamid Nasrullah Khan, a well known figure in business and social circles of Lahore, along with four grandsons and one granddaughter. President Ziaul Haq has condoled the sad demise of Chaudhry Mohammad Zafarullah Khan. In his message to the daughter of Chaudhry Mohammad Zaf arullah Khan, the president said: “I am grieved to know about the passing away of your father Chaudhry Mohammad Zafarullah Khan. He was an elder statesman with a long and distinguished career. He rose to prominence as an advocate and was known for his legal acumen. Before independence he attended the first round table conference and was a member of the Executive Council of the British Viceroy and a judge of the Federal Court of India. As the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan he very ably represented the country in several international conferences and also at the United Nations. It was attributed to his significant role in the deliberations of UN that he was elected as the President of its General Assembly. “In his death the country has lost a distinguished citizen,” the President said. Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo in his condolence message to the daughter of Chaudhry Mohammad Zafarullah Khan said: “I am sorry to learn of the sad demise of your father. He was an eminent jurist.” Prior to the establishment of Pakistan, he held a number of important public positions. After independence, he served Pakistan as the first Foreign REVIEW OF RELIGIONS 27 Minister for about seven years and made an outstanding contribution to the cause of Kashmir. Has election to the high offices of the President of United Nations General Assembly and Judge of the International Court of Justice was a recognition of his international stature. Others who condoled the death of Zafarullah Khan include Lt. Gen. Ghulam Jilani Khan, the Governor of Punjab and Begum Raiana Liquat Ali Khan, former president of All Pakistan Women Association. The Muslim, Islamabad Economic Position of Woman Of the great faiths Islam has been foremost in assigning woman a position of economic independence. It is well known that in the United Kingdom till as late as 1882, when the first Married Women’s Property Act was passed by Parliament, a married woman could hold no property of her own, independently of her husband. Any property that a femme sole (unmarried woman) held in her own right vested automatically in her husband on her marriage. A hundred years later traces still linger in certain aspects of British Law which illustrate a married woman’s position of dependence upon her husband. In Islam the independent economic position of woman has been established since the very beginning. Mention has been made of the obligation of the husband to make a settlement on the wife, in proportion to his means, at the time of marriage. This settlement is called dower (mehr). If at the time of the death of the husband the wife’s dower should be still unpaid, it ranks as a debt to be discharged out of his estate, in priority to all his other debts. In addition, the widow is also entitled to her share in the husband’s estate, which is determined by law. Any property that a woman might acquire by her own effort, or might inherit as an heir or receive as a legacy or gift, belongs to her independently of her husband. She may ask her husband to manage it, but if she chooses to manage or administer it herself he cannot interfere in her management or administration. (SirZafrulla Khan) 28 An Eminent Pakistani Another grand old man of the pre-independence days has departed. Ch. Zafarullah was a man of simple habits and modest disposition who rose to the highest positions. He had a long and distinguished public career spread over four decades. An eminent jurist, a renowned diplomat and a prolific writer, he was chosen by the Quaid-i-Azam himself as Pakistan’s first Foreign Minister in recognition of his calibre and experience. Primarily he was not a politician, but a lawyer who, when given a brief, did his job with rare dedication and thoroughness. He pleaded Pakistan’s case before the Boundary Commission and canvassed the Kashmir cause in the U.N. He also had the privilege of advocating the Palestinians’ case in the UN, which won him the admiration of most Arab States. He was the only Pakistani who achieved the distinction of being elected President of the UN General Assembly and a Judge of the International Court of Justice. There has been controversy regarding Ch. Zafarullah’s conduct of foreign relations and some critics have held him responsible for initiating the process which made Pakistan a “satellite of the Western bloc”. But his pro-West inclinations were not peculiar to him; it was a general phenomenon of the fifties and the entire cabinet shared this perception. Moreover, it was after his exit from the government that Pakistan became a member of SEATO and CENTO. He was an honest and upright person who stuck to his way of thinking, a quality rare among his contemporaries. Regardless of the controversy about his faith and political inclinations, he was an outstanding Pakistani, who served his country well and who will be remembered for the many laurels he won at home and abroad. The Muslim, Islamabad Repentance Repentance means a complete turning away from that which is not in accord with Allah’s pleasure and a firm adherence to righteousness. It is not the mere repetition of a formula. (SirZafrulla Khan) 29 Ch. Zafarullah Khan passes away (by a Staff Reporter) Chaudhry Sir Mohammad Zafarullah Khan, the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan and a prominent member of Ahmadia community, died in Lahore on Sunday at the age of 93. A Press release issued by the office of Jamaat-e-Ahmadia, Lahore states that his body will be taken to Rabwah and funeral’ prayers will be held on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at 93 Khurshid Alam Road, Lahore Contonment. Soon after he breathed his last after a protracted illness at 8.45 a.m. at the residence of his only daughter, Begum Hamid Nasrullah at 93 Khurshid Alam Road, Lahore Cantonment, a large number of people belonging to Ahmadia community and other prominent persons, including High Court Judges and high civil and military officers, made a bee-line to the place where he died. A close associate of the Quaid-i-Azam and a former Judge of the International Court of Justice, Ch. Zaf arulla Khan was born in Daska, District Sialkot, on February 6, 1893. He graduated in 1911 from the Government College, Lahore. Besides being an old Ravian and a Barrister-at-Law, he became Member Punjab Legislative Council during the period from 1926 to 1935. He held several high offices. He was a Member of the Governor-General’s Executive Council (1935-41), Senior Judge of the Federal Court of India (1941-47), Judge of the International Court of Justice (1954-61), and then Vice- President (1958-61) and President (1970-73) of the same Court. As Chief Representative of Pakistan in the UNO, he earned a singular laurel for his country by becoming the President of the General Assembly for the 1962—63 Session. It is an unbroken record so far that no single person has even been appointed except him as the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Court of International Justice. This was an international acknowledgement of this great diplomat, politician and jurist of world repute. He was one of the founder members and pioneers of the All India Muslim League. He was the President of All India Muslim League in 1930 and remained closely associated with the Quaid-i-Azam, Quaid-i-Millat and other Muslim League leaders from 1925—47. Pakistan Times, Lahore, 2 Sept 1985