While I have great regards and respect for Justice (retd) Khalil Ramday, the decision of committee headed by him to name roads in Lahore, has forgotten to honour memory of men who played a vital role in our freedom movement. I mean no disrespect to the men that this committee in its wisdom, or lack of it, has decided to honour by renaming roads and major crossings of Lahore. Perhaps Justice Ramday is unaware of the role played by Allama Iqbal and respect he had for Bhagat Singh, a man who fought and laid down his life to resist the occupation by British Raj, which many opportunists within the Muslim community are guilty of supporting and benefitted from this treachery. The resolution moved by Allama Iqbal, Malik Barkat Ali and two other non-Muslim lawyers in Lahore High Court Bar Association on 19 June, 1930, bears testimony to the heroic role of Bhagat Singh.
Justice Khalil Ramday and the Punjab government should be aware of unfortunate demolition of Masjed Shaheed Ganj on the night of 7 July, 1935, in Lahore, which was built in 1722 AD (1134 AH) and the unfortunate role played by few Muslim members of Punjab cabinet, headed by a coalition formed by Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims members of former Unionist Party. There are roads in Pakistan named after these men who collaborated in this dastardly and cowardly act, but none is named after Malik Barkat Ali. The agitation to prevent this demolition and judicial fight to restore this mosque was led by Allama Iqbal and Malik Barkat Ali with the consent of Quaid-e-Azam Mohd Ali Jinnah. The fact is that Malik Barkat Ali, a very close associate of Allama Iqbal, was the sole representative elected to Punjab Legislature in 1937 general elections on Muslim League’s ticket and he alone bore flag of Muslim League on the floor of the House. He was again re-elected in 1945 and died on 5 April, 1946.
On his death the Quaid paid him the following tribute: “I am deeply grieved to hear the very depressing and sad news of the sudden death of Malik Barkat Ali. He was from the very beginning a true and loyal member of the Muslim League, and on all occasions, he rendered the greatest service to Muslim India. His advice and staunch support on all occasions was of greatest value to the League and myself. Muslim India has lost in him a great man, and I have lost in him not only a colleague, a collaborator, but also a great friend. My deepest sympathies go out to his family in their bereavement for their irreparable loss.”
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Illinois, USA
What do you expect from Khalil Ramday, a judge who took two plots in Islamabad to do. For that matter none in the PML which is in power are even aware of the role of true heroes from Punjab who fought for Pakistan and were never part of the Unionist Party.
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