I AM retracing my seven-day sojourn with Prof Ghulam Azam, JI chief of Bangladesh, during the December 1971 Indo-Pak war.

He, who is now 91 years old, has recently been sentenced to life imprisonment. I remained with him from Dec 3 to Dec 10.

Then an army captain, I was posted at Commila as a staff officer with our legendary hockey player Brig Atif.

During the last week of November 1971, I came on a few days’ leave to Karachi as I was in a way literally ordered by my commander to avail myself of leave as I was slightly injured and had been in East Pakistan for at least one year.

On Dec 3, I, with two other officers, boarded a PIA commercial flight from Karachi for Dhaka to rejoin my duty.

The flight was full of soldiers in civvies who were also proceeding to Dhaka. There were only two civilians onboard -- Prof Azam and an East Pakistani businessman.

After about four hours of flight, the aeroplane started descending and we were wondering how the aircraft was landing at Dhaka before the scheduled time. But, after some time it landed at Colombo airport.

The cabin crew informed us that war had started and Indian aircraft had attacked Dhaka airport, therefore, we landed at Colombo in emergency.

From Colombo we went to Jeddah early morning on Dec 4. We all stayed at Jeddah for a week. This is where I got to know Prof Ghulam Azam.

On Dec 4, the embassy had organised Umrah for us.

After performing Umrah and Isha prayers, local Pakistanis and Saudi ulema requested Prof Azam come to the mike and pray for Pakistan.

As Prof Azam reached the mike, he burst into tears and couldn’t speak for half a minute. He then in a choked voice spoke in Urdu, loosely translated in English thus:

“God gave me all the facilities but, unfortunately, I could not go on pilgrimage. Even today I was travelling from Karachi to Dhaka to visit my children but Allah summoned me to Khana Kaaba.”

Thereafter, he prayed for Pakistan and its citizens living in both the wings. As Haj was due next month, therefore, about 20,000 to 25, 000 Hajis were present and they all joined him in the prayer.

On Dec 10, 1971, we, the three army officers, with six PAF pilots, stranded at Jordan flew back to Karachi by a special Saudi Arab C130 aircraft.

That was the last time I said Allah Hafiz to Prof Ghulam Azam. The news of a 90-year life sentence awarded by a Bangladeshi court to Prof Ghulam Azam has been received by millions around the world with great shock and grief.

But, his stature as a role model of principles, patriotism and dignity has further elevated his stature to be among those international personalities for whom millions of people keep praying.

COL (r) JAWAID IQBAL
Lahore