NAIMATULLAH KHAN
AN INCOMPARABLE SOUL

He was profoundly and intensely in love with Pakistan. My first-ever impression of him was of an upright and successful man with an affection for Islam and a keen interest in activities of religious nature. I deemed him successful because it wasn’t easy back then to own a 1,500-yard bungalow in the North Nazimabad neighborhood. It was during those days when I launched weekly Tabeer and I needed a lawyer to take care of its matters related to income tax. I knew many lawyers and attorneys like Khalid Ishaq, Raja Haq Nawaz, Junaid Farooqui, and Hashmat Habib who would take up our cases for free. But I was aware that I needed a specific man for the job, along the lines of Lahore’s Mehmood Mirza. When I spoke with my dear friend Munawar Hassan about it, he promptly advised me to reach out to “our very own Naimatullah.” I went to see him in his office situated near Merewether Clock Tower and found him waiting for me. He didn’t have a beard at that time, and his attire, as far as I remember, was Western. Now, one cannot even picture him having a different appearance. [The change in him later on suggests that] he must have been inspired by Jamaat-e-Islami. His home used to be a hub of JI workers.

In those days, many used to think of JI as the biggest hurdle in the way of the rising socialism and atheism. Such people had a soft corner for JI and were mocked by the chants of “jamaati.” One day, we heard that Mr. Khan had joined the same organization, sworn-in by Professor Ghafoor near the sacred Ka’aba. His faith seemed to have progressed tremendously, and he took no time to join the ranks as a vice amir and then as an amir. Some deemed it an outcome of his time spent with Syed Munawar Hassan, while others asked if he really stood the test to become a member of the party. He transformed gradually and to the point that it wasn’t possible anymore to think of his older version. Let me make it clear here that my constant reference to his earlier days doesn’t mean that he was distant from Islam then. He did have an interest in religious activities earlier as well. Mr. Khan successfully built his life after arriving empty-handed in Pakistan following the partition. His friend, eminent journalist Fazal Qureshi, enthusiastically narrates the tales of those days. He details how Mr. Khan began his journey in Karachi from the grassroots and became a very successful income tax lawyer. It was around the same time that he built his home, a symbol of his hard work and sheer dedication to his profession.

He was fundamentally a man of integrity and dignity, and it always delights me to see such men succeed. Such was the case of Prof. Ghafoor Ahmad, who owned a nice house in Federal B. Area during the ’70s when he was elected to the National Assembly. He served a major institution as its director finance and enjoyed a rewarding salary and perks, so did Mahmood Azam Farooqui. The JI found another such man in the form of Naimatullah Khan. I remember visiting him on many occasions when we gathered and ate together. Seeing him closely, I don’t remember seeing him angry as is the impression of some. I always found him gentle and soft-spoken, but yes, he was firm in his stance and uncompromising for truth. His appointment as the Karachi chief of the party raised a few eyebrows as some wanted to see the senior-most members taking the lead, compared to a relatively new member of the party. Mr. Khan’s nomination for mayorship was also criticized by those who thought that a ‘maulvi’ couldn’t be the man for the job, but they ignored the fact that he was, in fact, a professional lawyer. Naimatullah Khan dispelled this notion and was later known as one of the most successful mayors of the city.

Then President Pervez Musharraf was so impressed by him that he shielded him against fierce opposition. If one is to prove the case of local governments, Mr. Khan’s mayorship is truly an example. You can cite the example of Lahore’s mayor Amir Mahmood, but he didn’t face the difficulties and a hostile provincial government as did Mr. Khan. Even those who are impartial believed that an extended term in his service could change the city’s fate. He never bowed or succumbed to pressure. What I also like was his love for Pakistan, which he proved in letter and spirit. Mr. Khan proved that he was a successful man, here and, God-willing, in the hereafter. He was an incomparable soul. May Allah raise his status and shower his blessings on him.

 

Sajjad Mir

(This article was written in the year 2004)