Ever since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to rename the National Centre for Physics at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad after Pakistan’s first-ever Nobel Laureate Dr Abdus Salaam for his works in Particle Physics, it is being welcomed and appreciated by many and also opposed by some.
In all fairness, Dr Abdus Salaam deserved recognition and honour at official level many years back for bringing laurels to Pakistan because he was a Pakistani. Everyone living and breathing within geographical territory of Pakistan is a Pakistan irrespective of religion, faith, caste, colour or creed. Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had quite categorically stated “You are free, your are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan.. You may belong to any religion, cast or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the State”.
I am writing these few lines in appreciation of the decision of the Prime Minister as I had the honour of meeting Dr Abdus Salaam briefly when he was on a visit to Pakistan in late 1970’s or early 1980’s and was staying at the State Guest House in Lahore. I had found him very humble, pleasant personality and it was nice to talk to him.
Undoubtedly, Ahmadis were declared as non-Muslims by an act of the Parliament during the days of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto under pressure from religious quarters. But they are still and will remain as Pakistanis like anyone else living in Pakistan. As such, honouring Dr Abdus Salaam by naming the National Centre at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad after him by the Prime Minister, though in a quite belated manner, is still very much welcome and appreciable. Better late than never, please.
Z. RIFFAT
Lahore