KARACHI, May 27: Personal belongings of the most cherished and respected woman of Pakistan Movement, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, will be put on display at the Flag Staff House from July 1.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has recently renamed the Flag Staff House as Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah House.

The government has declared year 2003 as the year of Madar-i-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, younger sister of Founder of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Her belongings, including dresses, furniture and fixtures, professional instruments (dental instrument), rare photographs, paintings, letters written by her and some modern artifacts on her life, will be put on display at the House where she lived from September 1948 to 1964, the Director of the House, Qasim Ali Qasim told APP.

The exhibition is being organized by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Sindh.

The significance of the House is that Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah launched her political career from here. It was this place where all political discussions used to be held and decisions taken under her leadership. Besides, she participated in the 1964 election campaign from here and played a vital role in restoration of democracy and emerged as a symbol of democracy.

Mr Qasim recalled that her election symbol was ‘lantern’ and said that he had found some pieces of the same lantern which would also be displayed at the exhibition.

Around 100 enlarged pictures describing her political, social and general lifestyle, would be among the items on display in addition to 10 paintings which had been gifted to her. On of these paintings is a portrait presented to her by National Student Federation in 1965.

Mr Qasim said that a booklet containing the Madar-i-Millat’s photographs would be published later this year.

Arrangements to organize similar exhibitions in other cities of the country are being made, he said adding: “This is the only way to pay tributes to the great lady.”

He announced that the exhibition would be open to all.—APP