Omar — the messenger of hope

Contributing Editor Air Marshal (Retd) AYAZ AHMED KHAN remembers his beloved nephew.

Omar Asghar Khan’s mysterious death has deprived the nation of a brilliant intellectual and a talented leader. He would have contributed so much more for the good of the under-privileged in Pakistan. While his family is deeply grieved, millions are shocked in disbelief. A dynamic leader of great potential has been suddenly removed from the political scene. Omar was not only a shining star of the Khan family, he was the hope and light for the millions of neglected Haris workers, labourers, womenfolk and exploited masses especially the landless and the jobless. His death has silenced a leader who cared deeply for the poor. Millions are shocked by the way Omar Asghar died.

The Karachi Police without thorough enquiry concluded that Omar committed suicide. Syed Kamal Shah Inspector General Police Sindh, directed a team of doctors to expedite the postmortem. Circumstantial evidence disproves suicide. His family and the people at large have rejected the Police finding, and the government has been requested to order a judicial enquiry to establish the truth. Under pressure of the press and the public Syed Kamal Shah the police chief has now recommended to the provincial government to order a judicial enquiry into the case, as it had created lot of doubts among the general public and “questioned the police role in the affair”. It is hoped that the government of Sindh will accord due priority to hold a judicial enquiry with the help of police and security agencies and forensic and medical experts.

The media debate about the cause of Omar Asghar Khan’s death will continue for a long time. The scenes of sorrow and grief during his funeral and burial were enough to prove that he was widely loved and people are going to miss him. Both Omar and his wife Samina had dedicated their lives for the service and good of the exploited classes. Omar felt deeply for the disadvantaged poor. As federal minister he frequently visited “Kachi Abadis” in all the cities and did a lot to provide municipal, medical and health amenities, clean water and proprietary rights to the poor residents. He had sincere respect for the minority communities. He was fully aware of the plight of Christians and Hindus and wanted to redress their grievances and problems. He tried to correct the lot of the Christian residents in the nine French colonies in Islamabad. He desired that the residents of French colonies be helped legally and financially to own plots and small apartments. But the bureaucratic inertia of the CDA and vested interests of mafia’s and influentials were in the way.

In 1989 Omar Asghar Khan established SUNGI NGO for the uplift of neglected and poor communities in the far flung areas of Hazara Division in the NWFP. In Kohistan district SUNGI undertook construction of wells, tube wells, small water supply systems on self-help basis. Sungi emphasis was literacy especially for girls. Sungi volunteers taught the villagers to construct water borne latrines, pucca gutters and personal cleanliness. Under the close supervision of Omar’s wife Samina, SUNGI remained deeply involved with children and women economic and social uplift and education. Stitching and embroidery classes were started, and means of earning were provided to destitute women, widows, orphaned and poor girls. Traditional dresses and em- broidery products were sold through SUNGi outlets in Islamabad and elsewhere. All the money so earned was given in full to the concerned village women and girls. Omar’s heart was full of compassion for the downtrodden and the needy. He wanted his work to be productive and profitable for the poor. His motive was to serve the poor with utmost sincerity. Omar was a result oriented social worker. During the coming days Omar’s services for the poor are sure to be written in golden letters. Omar’s death is a tragedy for the poor Pakistanis. Omar was emerging as a voice of the poor and the deprived. That voice has been silenced.

Omar was a politician with bright ideas. In his last interview given to a Karachi daily Omar said, “Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah is my ideal. I find pride and satisfaction in following Quaid-e-Azam’s footsteps. Government should hold fair elections to enable genuine representatives of the people to work for their good, and for the security and prosperity of the country. The country should have a democratic government. Our party is making good progress. We are busy organizing ourselves and in the coming October elections our party candidates will stand from every constituency”. With such hope, expectation and promise Omar’s suicide was totally unexpected. Omar was an optimist, and the story of suicide is unconvincing. He abhorred violence and there was no reason for him to take his own life. He was known as “the crusader for change through peace and democracy”. His admirers called him the “messenger for change”. He was among those very rare leaders in our country who were able to carve out a place in the hearts of commoners. He was a gentle person, who never raised his voice in anger.

The heartfelt praise for Omar by respected citizens is a moving testimony for his qualities of head and heart. Pervez Hoodbhoy writes, “Omar Asghar Khan’s sudden departure is a devastating blow. It is so hard to believe that this energetic, dynamic man is gone for ever. It does not matter how he died. Whether it was he or someone else who took his precious life. What matters is how he lived, and what he did for others. He shall be remembered for his commitment to progressive social change to uplifting the poor and the downtrodden, and to a more just society. He and the organization he founded, Sungi, stood up resolutely to hostile mullah’s opposed to education for girls, and against the timber mafia in Hazara. As a member of the Musharraf cabinet, he was a voice for the poor and the disenfranchised, Omar’s achievements were extraordinary in a society so hostile to change and forward movement. He succeeded far better than most with his unique mix of idealism and pragmatism. Many of us have their own reasons for being grateful to Omar. He was an open, caring and courteous person, who I had never seen being rude to anyone. Months, some time years would go by between the times that I would see him, but he would always meet with the same genuine warmth and friendliness. Pakistan is poorer today for having lost one of its best. He leaves behind many who grieve for him”.

Dr Zafar Mirza, his deputy in the Qaumi Jamhouri Party states, “The question mark may hang over us for good, as had been the case with many past political murders. Omar tried to see dreams and then tried to give them political shape. Omar was convinced that economic change could not take place without knowing the causes of deprivation and backwardness. Determinants of social change, he used to say were in politics and governance...If you want to do something you will have to indulge in dialogue with your ownself. If you want to do something then no force military or dictatorship can stop you. “Omar Asghar Khan was a visionary. We have to take his vision to the political arena”. Shahrukh Rafi Khan former head of SPDI called Omar “a natural leader”. A M. Phil graduate in political economy was perturbed over how social justice can be brought in the country without talking about power structures. Omar raised the slogan of “Political Economy Zindabad” and afterwards tried to give his slogan a practical shape. Omar stressed the need of helping community organizations to contribute effectively in the process of national development. Omar was the foremost proponent for social change. He never tried to promote himself with such qualities of head and heart, Omar was a prince among men. He could have contributed a lot for the good of Pakistan and its people.”

Barkatullah Marwat from Kuwait says that Omar’s death is a national loss “Omar was a man of principles infused with patriotism. He can never die, because he did not surrender to injustice”. Fayyaz Baqir from the UNDP says, “Omar belonged to the breed who started dreaming in factories, fields and schools in the 1960’s. Many distanced themselves from the high ideals in the next three decades, but Omar stuck to his guns. Mr Johannes from the International Labour Organization — ILO says that Omar chose the Ministry of Labour and rural Development knowing that labour is a sector which gets lower in the budget, but has the highest problems the world over. He praised Omar’s achievements as a federal minister.

Since the death of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Quaid-e-millat Liaqat Ali Khan, the Pakistani nation has aspired for someone who could be respected like them. Omar, had he lived would have risen to great heights of leadership. His high qualities of character and integrity must be emulated. Omar should be the role model for the Pakistani youth.