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Published 01 Oct, 2014 06:44am

‘Spiritual scholar’

I was shocked to read the referred article by Nadeem Paracha in Dawn of Sept 21.There was misleading information in the article e.g. Namaz in Urdu and returning back to sufism in late age and falling into disillusionment.

Ghulam Ahmed Parvez never advocated any such act; rather he emphasised the need to continue the prevalent practices till an Islamic government came into being and decided to solve these issues.

I met him in 1983 and sat with him for over one and a half hour. He was alert, responsive and hopeful, and he even prepared afternoon tea for both of us.

I have read almost all his books and articles. You don’t find any change in his way of thinking in his writings rather one discovers his Quranic interpretations/suggestions to the day-to-day national problems of the time. During Ziaul Haq’s time, a referendum was held; he wrote a lengthy article on it. He also wrote articles on constitution making, education, Islamic laws, the sectarian problem and misgivings/falsehood against Islam and Pakistan.

All his articles are still valid and worth considering to find solutions to the problems which our nation/society is facing today.

His interview to PTV and his talk on TV on Allama Iqbal Day is a testimony to the alertness of his mind till old age.

His book on sufism, Tassawuf Ki Haqeeqat, which he wrote in 1983 is a proof to his thoughts and views against sufism till the end.

I never expected from Nadeem Paracha such journalism. I hope he realises his glaring mistake and apologises through your esteemed daily.

Khan Umerzai

Philadelphia, USA

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2014

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