Justice (r) Dr Javed Iqbal, son of legendary poet and philosopher Dr Allama Iqbal, passed away in Lahore on Saturday at the age of 91. He is survived by two sons, Waleed and Munib Iqbal, and wife Justice (r) Nasira Iqbal.
According to his son Waleed, Justice Iqbal was operated upon at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital three days ago, but his health deteriorated in the wee hours of Saturday and he breathed his last at 8: 30am.
His funeral prayers were offered near his residence at 61-Main Gulberg, Lahore, which were attended by renowned judges, lawyers, poets, political and religious leaders, teachers, media persons, businessmen and people from all walks of life.
Iqbal served as a senior judge at the country’s apex court and also remained the Lahore High Court chief justice for four years – March 1982 to October 1986. Besides, he served as an elected member of the Senate and had the honour of representing Pakistan at the United Nations three times along with other delegates.
Born in October 1924 in Sialkot, Javed Iqbal did his BA (Honors) from the Government College, Lahore, in 1944 and Masters in English and Philosophy in 1948. Later in 1954, he completed his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge at the age of 30. Continuing his passion for law, he graduated as a barrister in London.
Renowned poet and playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed said the death of Javed Iqbal was the end of an era as he had spent an eventful life. He termed his book “Zinda Rood” a great asset which encompasses all the glimpses of Allama Iqbal’s life.
According to Syed, “Khutbaat-e-Iqbal” penned down by Javed is the most relevant interpretation of Iqbal’s thoughts in recent times.
Yousaf Sallahudin, nephew of Javed Iqbal, said he saw his grandfather in his uncle and he could never forget his blunt style of speaking. He added that he had recorded a conversation between his mother and uncle where they were sharing the memories of their father just before his death and he would release it on this coming Iqbal Day.
Shahid Nadeem, executive director of Ajoka Theatre, said Dr Javed Iqbal was a great admirer of Ajoka and used to participate in their festivals. He said the way he narrated the events of his father’s life in “Zinda Rood” was commendable.
Government College University Vice-Chancellor Dr Hassan Ameer Shah said the alma mater of Dr Iqbal was going to organise a condolence reference in the coming days in which his services would be highlighted.
“Dr Javed Iqbal, who studied in the Government College in the 1940’s, had a great love for his alma mater because his father Allama Iqbal had also studied there. He often came to the university to share his student life memories with the young blood,” added Dr Shah.
Professor Dr Khawaja Zakriya, who is regarded as an authority on Allama Iqbal in the sub-continent, was of the view that Dr Javed Iqbal was one of the most learned intellectuals of Pakistan and his demise had created a vacuum that could not be filled easily. He also called him a great, noble and an elegant human being.
Dr Javed Iqbal authored several books on Philosophy of Law, History of Pakistan and on modern Islamic philosophy, including, “Ideology of Pakistan”, “Legacy of Quaid-e-Azam”, “Islam and Pakistan’s Identity” “Apna Gireban Chaak-his autobiography”, “Zinda Rood-biography of Allama Iqbal”.
Prominent among those who attended the funeral prayers of the departed were Justice (r) Khalilur Rehman Ramaday, former minister Rana Ejaz, Pakistan Today Editor and renowned journalist Arif Nizami, PPP leader Naveed Chaudhry, Safdar Abbasi, Supreme Court Chief Justice Anwer Zaheer Jamali, SM Zafar, Admiral (r) Javed Iqbal, Falak Sher of the Jamaat-e-Islami, writer Attaul Haq Qasmi, Justice (r) Jamshed Ali Shah, Khawaja Mehmood, Justice (r) Asad Munir, PPP leader Azizur Rehman Chan, Justice Azhar Jamali, Hafiz Salman Butt, Barrister Amir Hassan, Justice (r) Tanvir Ahmad Khan, Justice (r) Chaudhry Muzammal, Ghulam Mohayyduddin, Mahad Hamza, Ragib Naeemi, Tariq Aziz, Mian Munir, Hassan Saqib Nisar, Justice Farrukh Irfan, Abdul Malik, Alina Khan, Samina Khalid Ghurki, Shoaib Bin Aziz, Khurrum Nawaz Ghanda, Raheeq Abbasi, former minister Khursheed Kasuri, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Insari, Zafar Ali Raja, PLM-N leader Zaeem Qadri, Muneeza Hashmi, PTI leaders Chaudhry Sarwar and Mehmoodur Rasheed and Lahore High Court Chief Justice Manzoor Malik.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif meanwhile expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of Justice (r) Javed Iqbal in a statement. He prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and offered his condolences to the bereaved family. “We have lost an intellectual, a great jurist and a true Pakistan,” said the PM.
President Mammnoon Hussain also condoled the death of Javed Iqbal. PTI chief Imran Khan also expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise.