LUMS

Khalid Ishaq remembered

KARACHI, May 21: Tributes were paid to great jurist and lawyer of his days, late Khalid M. Ishaq at a memorial meeting organised at the newly-built Club House of Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) here on Saturday. The Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh, Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed, was the chief guest.

The speakers highlighted various facets of the life of Khalid Ishaq and described him as a man of multiple and unmatched qualities.

Recalling his 50 years of association with the great jurist Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed said he found him not only a great lawyer but also a great human being.

He said that Khalid Ishaq was responsible for drawing him into this field and always provided him guidance.

Justice Sabihuddin said Khalid Ishaq had great respect for the rights of minorities and always defended stance that minorities had equal rights and could be appointed as a judge.

Speaking about Mr Ishaq’s splendid library, the Chief Justice said it had been his desire to keep his treasure of books here in Karachi.

Justice Sabihuddin said Mr Ishaq had special affiliation with children and quoting his own example said that when he was about 4 years of age, he used to take him out and get him a cup of ice cream.

Speaking on the occasion Barrister Kamal Azfar while refreshing the memories about Khalid Ishaq described him as his senior and elder and from whom he learnt a lot.

“He was a great advocate and leader of the bar who used to encourage the younger ones”, he said.

Nusrat Mirza presented a book on Khalid Ishaq to Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and said his weekly sittings were a source of intellectual and educational learning. But no one could speak against Islam, Holy Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be upon Him), ideology of Pakistan and Quaid-i-Azam.

Earlier welcoming the participants, KBCA chief Brig (retd) A.S. Nasir said that no amount of words of tributes to Khalid Ishaq could prove sufficient.

He further said there should be a monument raised in memory of the great jurist.

The KBCA chief described Khalid Ishaq an embodiment of “enlightened moderation” and said he always believed in humanitarian values.—APP

Dawn, Karachi, 22 May, 2005