Former Sindh Minister and one of the founding members of Pakistan People’s Party, Al Haaj Muhammad Hanif Fareed Soldier was born in August 1936 in Hyderabad in the Silawata Rajputana family.
He belonged to a poor and noble family. His father, Abdullah Fareed, didn’t have sufficient resources and so Hanif Soldier had to abandon his education at an early age. He moved to Kotri with his uncle where he ran a pan shop to support his family. Later, he came back to Karachi where another uncle, Yaqoob Fareed, offered him a job in his cement shop. Being a hardworking and intelligent person, Hanif soon moved on from supplying cement to their customers to landing a big contract of Valika Agency. Gradually, through his fair dealings, he gained the confidence of a number of dealers.
Hanif Soldier also had a great interest in sport. At the end of the 19th century, when his ancestors migrated from Jaiselmer Rajasthan to Karachi and Hyderabad in search of livelihood they also brought their traditional sport, camel-cart racing; these races were held in the outskirts of Mangho Pir. Hanif Soldier participated in arranging these events with great interest. Besides this, he was also fond of football; as a coach he named his team after his eldest son’ — Mehmood-Eleven Football Team — which won many tournaments, played on community basis.
Since Hanif Soldier was a public figure and used to take interest in public gatherings on social and political issues, he was elected a member of the Managing Committee by his Marwari community during 1965-66. Hanif Soldier was also elected a B.D. (Basic Democracy) member in Ayub Khan’s Convention Muslim League in 1960 and 1964.
When the then Foreign Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, resigned from Ayub Khan’s cabinet in 1967 after developing policy differences on Tashkent Agreement and formed his separate political party Hanif Soldier also resigned and joined Bhutto’s party.
During the initial days Hanif Soldier was a very famous and active leader of Pakistan People’s Party and was called chhota (little) Bhutto. Hanif Soldier’s presence in all of the party’s meetings held in the city was important as he knew the art of warming-up public meetings. The way he raised slogans, such as ‘Jiye Bhutto’, in his loud and echoing voice was worth seeing. He wasn’t very educated but he knew the art of delivering speeches.
Hanif Soldier was given a ticket for Provincial Assembly in the 1970 elections from old Ranchore Line against a Muslim League leader. Though PPP got a heavy mandate at the Federal and at Provincial level, Hanif Soldier was defeated by a large margin. On his defeat Bhutto once said to him “I am not able to understand how a man like you can be defeated.”
Hanif Soldier’s wish to hoist the flag on his car was fulfilled when he contested elections from the same constituency in 1977. He was running against the same opponent but owing to the boycott by Pakistan National Alliance (PNS) on the issue of rigging, PPP once again won the elections and Hanif Soldier was elected MPA for the first time.
A journalist who used to report Assembly sessions says: ‘‘During sessions Hanif Soldier maintained discipline and never became involved in arguments on political issues. People used to wait for him outside the assembly and he listened sympathetically to their problems.’’
After the imposition of Martial Law on July 5, 1977, by General Zia-ul-Haq, Hanif Soldier faced many problems. His work suffered badly as all contracts on government level were cancelled and payments were stopped. Hanif faced difficulty in fulfilling familial responsibilities but he passed this difficult time selling his machinery and vehicles. He was also jailed many a times.
Former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, keeping in view his sacrifices and popularity in his circle gave him a ticket in the 1990 elections for Provincial Assembly from Lyari in which he got elected. She also appointed him the General Secretary of PPP’s Karachi District South Committee in 1988.
He held the portfolio of Minister for Haj-o-Auqaf in 1992 in Muzaffar Ali Shah’s cabinet. More than hundred teachers were appointed through the circle’s reserved quota by his efforts.
Z.A. Bhutto praised him saying he is true a soldier on his soldier-like progress. Hanif Soldier died in Karachi at the age of 58 on July 4, 1994 due to a heart attack.
