Liaquat Ali Khan Corner

Friend and Guide of Sind

by Muhammad Ayub Khuhro

There are certain names which will always be enshrined in our hearts and be perpetuated in our loving memory. One of these beloved names, which we shall always pronounce with reverence and adoration, is that of Liaquat Ali Khan. To know him was to love him. Such was the fascinating charm of his remarkable personality.

I came in personal contact with him for the first time in 1938, when he came to Karachi along with Quaid-i-Azam. He was then the General Secretary of the All-India Muslim League and the trusted lieutenant of the Father of Nation. He made an indelible impression on me, and I realized that even at that time he possessed such presence of mine, self-confidence and the courage and conviction and all those necessary qualities which were bound in due course to win for him the trust and faith of the Muslim nation in its future political struggle.

From the very inception of the Muslim League in Sind, I had the privilege of meeting the Quaid-i-Millat, off and on, and discussing all common national problems with him at Delhi and different other places, where the meetings of the Council of All-India Muslim League and the annual sessions were held. My contacts with him grew more frequent when the Quaid-i-Azam nominated me on the Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League in 1942. As a member of the Working Committee between 1942 and 1943, whenever I sought the advice and guidance of Liaquat Ali Khan, it was spontaneously forthcoming. A man of robust common-sense and sound judgment as he was, few could equal his human insight and political sagacity. Even under the most strenuous circumstances he maintained a serene presence of mind and an unruffled cool-mindedness, which was the envy of many politicians. To this may be added his incessant enthusiasm for public service, and his unbounded patriotic zeal. These were the qualities which made him the worthy successor of the Quaid-i-Azam.

In the meetings of the All-India Muslim League Council and the Working Committee, I always noticed that his opinions commanded universal respect and were hailed almost unanimously. In fact, I do not remember any occasion, when his judgment failed to prevail on his colleagues. Quaid-i-Azam too listened to him with patient attention and relied on the soundness of his judgment.

Another quality with which he was endowed by nature was the gift of persuasive oratory. Whether on the platform of the Muslim League or on the floor of the Central Legislature, whenever he spoke, he carried the mass of popular opinion with him and stirred the deep springs of thought, even among the hoary headed and veteran politicians.

The Quaid-i-Azam knew his man. Once during the open session of the Muslim League, the need for an extempore speech to explain a certain point was felt by the Quaid and he looked around for the man to do it. His eyes rested on Liaquat. Liaquat looked up and Quaid-i-Azam said, “Liaquat, please explain this to the assemblage.” Liaquat demurred, but got up and started off. We all felt a little afraid but we soon found out that the murmurings were no more and the assemblage was listening to his well-chosen and thought-out words with rapt attention. He got his grip on the audience and went on and finalized his speech. The audience was happy and Quaid-i-Azam beamed on him: “Liaquat, you have done well.” That incident clearly pointed to the future leader of the Muslim nation. Much later during his office of Prime Ministership of Pakistan he handled more piquant and delicate situations with the bewitching sorcery of his tongue.

I came to know him from a much closer range in 1945 and 1946 when he came to Sind so often in connection with the Sind Assembly elections. These recurrent visits were necessitated by the difference which arose on account of G. M. Syed over the issue of Muslim League tickets. In spite of all such differences and distractions the Quaid-i-Millat played the vital role in stabilizing and consolidating the Muslim League in the Sind Province. To us he was virtually a friend, a guide and a philosopher.

During his visits to Sind it was sometimes my privilege to have him as my guest. This enabled me to discuss all issues with him in a very informal manner. I remember how he deliberated at length on all problems that cropped up and readily pointed out the way to tackle them effectively. It was his foresight and seasoned judgment, which helped us to guard the national organization against the onslaught of disruptive forces.

I remember the last interview that took place between the Quaid-i-Azam, Shaheed-i-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan, myself and G. M. Syed. It was in November 1945. The discussions lasted for about two hours and both the Quaid-i-Azam and Liaquat Ali Khan did their level best to persuade G. M. Syed to behave loyally and constitutionally in the larger interests of the nation which was then struggling hard for the creation of Pakistan and the liberation of our Muslim brothers in this sub-continent. But in spire of this very powerful personal appeal from both of them, Syed refused to listen to reason or the sound advice. And the discussions resulted in the parting of ways between the Muslim League and the dissenting Syed Group. It was, however, productive in one respect. We established once and for all that whatever the gains or losses in the political field, the Muslim League would not compromise its principles at the cost of national interests.

This tradition was kept up by Liaquat Ali Khan after the sad demise of the Quaid-i-Azam and I am sanguine the Muslim Leaguers will always keep up this noble tradition, whatever the hazards. The life and life-works always inspire us to stand for our rights and to make no ignoble compromise with what is wrong, unfair or unjust.

He had the true Islamic humility and meekness which made him a perfect gentleman. Whenever he possibly could, he would mix with the people without any distinction. He always had a smiling face and met people and situations with it. This was Liaquat whom the world respected and counted amongst its foremost leaders. These were the qualities that enabled our nation to repose confidence in him and be led by him.

Meeting him was not only a pleasure but also an experience. His attitude was disarming and put one at one’s perfect ease. He was a great conversationalist and the charm of it was so great that one did not wish to leave his company and one always hankered for more such contacts. To relate all that transpired in my numerous meetings with him would require volumes.

I will just relate the last episode which illustrates his lofty and patriotic mind. While in the course of conversation about his meager worldly possessions I broached the suggestion about the sale of his palatial house “Gul-e-Ra‘ana” in New Delhi. As soon as I suggested this, he leaned back in his chair with half-closed eyes as if recalling something precious to memory. Then he began in a solemn and a little husky tone, “Khuhro, I had been actually offered quite a decent sum for that house; but the value of that house was far greater than any sum in terms of money; you see, the idea of Pakistan was born and nurtured in that house and it saw the birth of Pakistan. That house had come to be associated with the Quaid-i-Azam and the Muslim League so much that I thought I would let it be preserved as a momento of our struggle for an Independent State. The Quaid-i-Azam always presided over his ‘Cabinet’ (Working-Committee) meetings in that house. As you know, I am not a rich man, but it has been always and will always remain my highest ambition to serve my people to the best of my ability.” I remained silent and the Quaid-i-Millat rose still greater in my estimation.

He was honest both in his thought and action, and in his private as well as public life. When I became the first Chief Minister of Sind after the establishment of Pakistan he was offered a valuable property worth several lakhs in Karachi for his landed property in Muzaffarnagar (UP) and his house in Delhi, by a big Hindu businessman. But Liaquat Ali Khan refused to consider it simply because such exchange was not officially admissible, as this district of the United Provinces was not within the area allowed for such exchanges. It may, however, be noted that many others had during that period affected such exchanges.

The light that was our guide is no more, but its bright spark will never be extinguished. It will burn more brightly with every gust of adverse wind. It will continue to inspire us and lead us on to that high goal of destiny for which the Shaheed-i-Millar lived and died. Liaquat was the embodiment of all that is noble and worthy in the word “Liaquat” itself. Men like him are not born every other day. Indeed, the flower blooms each spring but men of Liaquat’s type are a rare production.

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