KARACHI: A book of essays on distinguished socialist politician and thinker Mairaj Mohammad Khan — titled Mairaj Mohammd Khan — compiled by Rasheed Jamal was launched at the Karachi Press Club on Friday.

Speaking to the audience Mr Jamal said the book was first launched in London. He said a lot more could be written on Mr Khan.

Prof Anees Zaidi said Mr Khan, who passed away on July 21 this year, had a presence that smelled of truth. He knew how to keep friends together and acted like a bridge between them. Disagreeing with a notion of the book, he said the light (of hope) that he was able to shine on everyone around him would remain that way (shama jalti rahey gi). He said Ahfazur Rehman’s article in the compilation was the best.

Akram Darecha said when Khan saw labourers dying during Z. A. Bhutto’s rule, he couldn’t bear the sight. So he became the first minister of Pakistan who resigned from office in protest. He said today such a step taken by any politician appeared like a dream.

Wahab Siddiqui said he was working on a book on Khan.

Akmra Qaimkhani said he learned a lot from Khan. He said the late leader never compromised on principles.Manzoor Razi said Khan was a politician as well as workers’ leader.

Faisal Edhi reminisced about the time when his father, Abdul Sattar Edhi, was unwell and Khan came to see him. Khan too was ill at the time. Both conversed for a long time refreshing memories of their early days. Both were against capitalists (sarmayadar) and believed that society needed to struggle against class disparity.

Mr Edhi said to date class disparity existed and these days anti-workers were being projected as heroes of society. He said salvation lay in a classless society.

Khan’s son Khaqan said when he was young he either saw his father in jail or when he was home he’d be surrounded by people. Addressing those who were present at the launch, he said it was their duty to tell the younger generation and the generations to come about the real role-models.

Aneeq Ahmed talked about the times when there people from the right- and left-wing ideologies sat together despite having differences.

Mairajul Huda said today some people who claimed to share Khan’s ideals had joined non-governmental organisations.

Mehnaz Rehman read out Ahfazur Rehman’s paper. He said Khan was the oppressors’ enemy and lover of the underprivileged. The dream that he saw would remain alive. He mentioned certain things in the book that needed to be clarified.

Azhar Jamil said he first met Khan in 1969 during a rally at Nishtar Park where politicians such as Maulana Bhashani and Rasheed Hasan Khan were also present. Responding to a point raised by a member of the audience and highlighting his integrity, he said certain people asked Mr Khan to make a separate political party with Z. A. Bhutto, but he declined. He said it was Mr Khan who faced Gen Ayub Khan for eight years not Bhutto.

Deputy city mayor Arshad Vohra said he would move a resolution in the municipal house to name Jail Road after Mairaj Mohammad Khan.

Barrister Sibghatullah Qadri, who presided over the programme, said he and Khan were friends from the time when both were very young. He said though he (Qadri) was the founding member of the NSF, in only a year Mr Khan left him behind in the struggle. He said there was a time when Mr Khan was labelled a traitor for supporting China because China was a communist country, but now CPEC was deemed an important project. Similarly, he said, if Khan was listened to on the issue of the Bengali language, the Dhaka Fall wouldn’t have happened. He said it’s time we stopped calling people traitors.

The event was hosted by Mujahid Barelvi.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2016