Lyallpur Historical & Cultural Research Journal December 2016, Vol. 2, No. 2 [35-58] ISSN Print 2523-2770 ISSN Online 2523-2789 Partition of India: A Review on Refugees Dilemma Busharat Elahi Jamil 1 Abstract Ms. Fatima Jinnah, the mother of the Nation and the sister of founding father was esteemed political figure of Muslim League Women Wing. The charismatic personality of Mr. Jinnah was a source of inspiration for her. After the creation of Pakistan her visionary affiliation and support to the Country was a source to diminish the strength of enormous early glitches faced by Pakistan. After the sad demise of Mr. M. A. Jinnah she became a paradigm of métier to step forward. She focused to reduce miseries of the refugee from India. Refugees wrote letters and shared many documents with her regarding their issues of rehabilitation, settlement and re-settlement in Pakistan. It was to get favors and brought the actual situations in her notice. These valuable letters, official and non-official documents with the title Fatima Jinnah Papers are available in National Archives, Islamabad, Pakistan. This study is based on the review of selected documents from FJ Papers regarding partition, rehabilitation, settlement and re-settlement issues of the new born state of Pakistan. Key Words: Refugees Dilemma, Partition of India, Fatima Jinnah, Narration and Annotation Introduction During my PhD dissertation, I visited severely to the National Archives of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan. Here, I found a beneficial and worthwhile compilation of primary documents and correspondence of refugees to Ms. Fatima Jinnah 2 in Fatima Jinnah papers (FJ Papers). In these letters, refugees shared their miseries, issues and sufferings regarding settlement and rehabilitation. They pointed out the difficulties, writing suggestions and looking for relief. Particularly FJ Papers Files No. 325, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449 and 579, are all the reflection of the awful conditions and situations of refugees of several parts of Pakistan (Hamdani, 1989). These are the official documents and valuable primary sources to analyze and understand the refugees dilemma and the worth of Ms. Jinnah in the eyes of refugees as they were giving her the titles of Khatoon-e-Pakistan, Madre-Millat, Hazoor-e-Aliya, Khwahr-e-Millat, AaliMartabatMohtarma etc. 1 Assistant Professor, Department of History, FC College University, Lahore
Partition of India: A Review on Refugees Dilemma Review An educated Muslim lady wrote a letter from Poona Camp on November 9, 1947, to Ms. Fatima Jinnah (Lady, M, personal communication, November 9, 1947). This letter illustrates the devotion and spirit of the lady. She chose Ms. Fatima as the right person to discuss her desires and experiences. She claimed that she is an educated one, fluent in English. She also shared that she had served NWR (North West Railway) Lahore as the first lady ticket collector. She had the experience of office work, office secretary but her issue was typing. Moreover, she claimed I can write a book but not until I m out of this area. I can give lectures and speeches without any hesitation at all. I can assure you that I shall show the world what Islam is introducing. I do not want a title. I do not want fame. I don t want a very big salary at the moment. She wanted to do something wonderful even with a small salary because she loss everything in Delhi on Lodhi Road (Jalal, 1995) Refugees from various parts of India were looking for help and support from Ms. Fatima Jinnah. They had the hope and shared their cordial feeling with Ms. Fatima Jinnah. Mr. Imam Ali Shah from Karachi, a professional golf instructor of Lodi Gold Club New Delhi before, wrote to Ms. Jinnah on December 20, 1947. He shared that he left his job on September 17, 1947 due to the changed circumstances and went to camp in Delhi (Shah, A, personal communication, December 20, 1947). Later when he reached Karachi, he was jobless and was demanding for help. He wrote that I am sending copies of my testimonials and I shall be very much obliged if you will kindly arrange to get me appointed at the Karachi Golf Club instead of the Hindu Golf Professionals who may be sent to Delhi. I am informed that the members of the Karachi club like him so much that they will not agree to this change. But if you ll kindly help me, I hope that I shall be able to get this job. If the above cannot be done, I would request for a post of Jamadar either in the Lahore Assembly or in the Lahore Court. I am sure you can very well recommend it for me. It may not be out of place to mention that I had the honor of seeing His Excellency, the Quaid-i-Azam at Delhi, last summer. This shows her strong belief on the personality of Ms. Fatima Jinnah. A brave and courageous refugee, Lady Ghulam Fatima of Jullundur, wrote a letter on March 8, 1948 to Ms. Jinnah from Gujarat. In this letter she shared her efforts, views and issues in detail. She shared that saw a dream on March 7, 1948 after Isha prayer. In the dream, an old man gave her good news and said that there is no way to worry (Fatima, G, personal communication, March 7, 1948). Just write your issues to Quaid-i-Azam and his
Jamil sister, Ms. Fatima Jinnah. She introduced herself, that before partition, she was also the member of Women Muslim League in Jullundur. After partition, she settled in Gujarat and opened a Lady General store. She also got the agency of a shoe company of Lahore with the advance payment of 5000 Rupees. At her Lady General Store things like silk clothes, shoes, soaps, perfumes, stationary, library etc. were available. She expended about Rs25000 on the store (Munir, 1993). Now she was worried about her new business here in Gujarat because men stores were dominant and she was alone in the market with a lady brands. She also advised Ms. Jinnah to motivate the women to open further lady stores. In her letter, she wished to open another lady general store on Mall Road, Lahore, for good earning. She was much hopeful and positively looking for help from Ms. Jinnah in this regard. M. D. Saleem from House No. 7, Sheesh Mahal Road, Lahore, wrote on March 29, 1949 to Ms. Fatima Jinnah and explained his grave issue (Saleem, M, personal communication, March 29, 1949). He first expressed his dream as, in October 1948, I dreamt that there is a big mosque in a jungle and a man is standing outside the gate of mosque, he said, if you want to meet Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah; you should first perform ablution. I entered the mosque. There was a huge tank on the right hand side of the mosque. I performed ablution quickly and in the meantime, I saw that Quaid-e-Azam was standing on the left hand side of the mosque. Quaid-e-Azam looked at me with a gorgeous smile. I did not wait any longer and hastily went straight to him and as I bent down to kiss his hands, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah caught me from my arms and pulled me up. Quaid-e-Azam kissed my forehead while keeping both his hands on my head, and asked me to say my prayers and disappeared. Actually, he was a successful candidate of a Govt. job test but in general interview, he was rejected by the authorities. Now in reference of above said dream, he was insisting Ms. Fatima Jinnah to help him with a recommendation against the job. Sakeena Begum, Ameera Begum and Sughra Begum put their innovative desire in front of Ms. Fatima Jinnah from House No. 1348 ChancharGhati Jinnah Chowk, Sakhar on October 15, 1956 (Begum, S, personal communication, October 15, 1956). They were refugees from India. From the past seven years, they were not able to continue their studies because of their family s financial issues. Before partition, they had completed their primary education from Kanpur (India). After migration, their family did not allow them to study further because financial strains. But they were innovative and wanted to continue education. 37
Partition of India: A Review on Refugees Dilemma In spite of the poverty, they were trying to clear the exam of AdeebAlam but failed because they could not arrange fee 50 to 60 Rs. to pay per month. All three sisters were looking for six months study expenditures to clear the exam and become a worthwhile part of the family and the society. A farmer, Noori Sultan S/O Suleman from Hadaali Tehsil KhushabDistt. Sargodha on January 25, 1958, wrote about his weak condition to Ms. Fatima Jinnah (Sultan, N, personal communication, January 25, 1958). He shared that he is the son of a poor farmer and faced a loss of Rs. 80, 000 and has nothing left. He was living miserable life in a depressing condition. He shared his dream that on the night of January 23, 1958 (Thursday), he saw Quaid-i-Azam in a garden. He called me and enquired about my worries and asked me to write Ms. Fatima Jinnah for a help. In this letter to Fatima Jinnah he was requesting for loan with the reference of said dream. Against this help, he was even ready for slavery. Refugee, Muhammad Mazafar Khan from Delhi, living in MohalaRampura, House No. 2399 Peshawar City wrote about his worries to Ms. Fatima Jinnah on December 8, 1957 (Khan, M, personal communication, December 8, 1957). He came to Pakistan on November 21, 1947; his claims to allot the evacuee property had been accepted. Now he wanted to go for Haj with his family but had no money because of huge financial crisis. He was demanding financial because from the past six months in dreams, he was looking himself receiving help from Ms. Fatima Jinnah. Fatima Jinnah Papers also highlights the agonies of transferred Govt. employees from different parts of India to Pakistan. On March 13, 1948, Mr. Muazulah Khan shared his and one of his colleague s sufferings with Ms. Jinnah (Khan, M, personal communication, March 13, 1948). They belonged from different parts of India E. (Store Depots) and now they had transferred to Pakistan as permanent employees. They had informed to their Headquarter at Rawalpindi telegraphically about the transfer. But we have not been given salaries for the months of December and February. We have been shunted out without serving with one month s notice. We claimed our T. As but no T. A has been given to us so far. We are new comers over here and we have nothing to live upon. Nobody is going to help us. We, therefore, most respectfully beg to request your good self to please help us at your earliest convince for which we shall ever pray for your long life and prosperity. For refugees, it was the personality of Ms. Fatima Jinnah to which they considered a source of kindness and were begging for help.
Jamil A refugee, Mrs. Ikram of Karnal on May 24, 1948, wrote about her pains from House No. 1742, Ward No. 9, Kachehri Road, Multan. She was living in extreme miserable conditions in Multan (Ikram, personal communication, May 24, 1948). To share her troubles she went to see Ms. Fatima Jinnah but could not. She was begging to have a meeting with Ms. Jinnah to tell her story. She did not have a proper place to live and wanted to some earnings and was demanding a sewing machine to survive. Furthermore, mismanagement and corruption in allotments was also highlighted in FJ papers by the common refugees from India. For example, refugees Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Siraj-ud-Din Khan, Shahab-ud-Din Khan and Haji Zia-ud-Din Khan from Mir PurKhas Sind, complained to Ms. Fatima Jinnah as they had a transport business in India from September 1, 1923 to September 11, 1947 (Khan, I, personal communication, September 1, 1923). After partition, they settled in Mir PurKhas Sind. It was come to their knowledge that there were three Lorries and some equipment to allot those refugees who had the same business in India before partition. But administration allotted these Lorries to an advocate Siraj-ul-Nabi refugee from Jaipur India who had no such experience before. According to them, they had been deprived from their rights and were requesting to allot these Lorries to them because it was their right (Asrar, 2003). Syed Haraval Husain Moatmad Muhajir Union Makhsoos, Ilaqa Khair Pur Miras wrote his grievances and complaints against the administration with Ms. Jinnah by raising few questions. Why is the administration crushing our voices? Why the administration is not taking action against the behavior of KhairPur s DRO Mr. Mustafa Bilgirami? Do we have no right of justice and mercy? Do we have no right of your extricable attention? He was complaining against the cold behavior of administration. Actually, he was struggling for the allotment of evacuee property and requesting for immediate help to get rid from the brutalities of the said DRO. S. Mumtaz, a refugee shared with Ms. Jinnah another example of poor administration of the settlement authorities on March 10, 958 from BazazMohala, Str. 72, House No. 887-B, Lahore (Mumtaz, S, personal communication, March 10, 1958). In extremely poor condition, their family migrated from Ambla to Lahore. Govt. allotted the above said house to his father Late Hakeem Noor Muhammad. But her father passed away in 1949, which was a huge lost for her family (Noor-us-Saba, 1997). Actually, before partition, Lahore Cantonment Board 39
Partition of India: A Review on Refugees Dilemma leased out this house to a Hindu. This lease had been expired. Now, Cantonment Board wanted to remove them from the house and to allot it to their employ because it was not an evacuee property. But there was no other residence to shift. She was writing for help in this regard. Because of over burdening or less administrative machinery, refugees had many complaints with the settlement administration. Mainly, officers allotted the land to the refugee families but later made it cancel without consultation and delivering notice. Refugees were becoming disheartened because of rigorous visits of these Govt. offices. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Noor Muhammad Khan Muhammad Ayub Khan, Umar Ali Khan, Maqsood Ali Khan etc. also wrote to Ms. Fatima Jinnah about these sort of issues from Mir Pur Khas Sind. Mirza Rahat Ali Beg of Braili wrote to Ms. Jinnah on June 12, 1948, from Qila Sheikhupura Junction and stated his apprehensions. He was the Secretary of Muslim League of his Mohalain Braili. Lorry was his livelihood. On December 20, 1947, Sikhs attacked on his lorry garage because of Muslim League flag on his garage. They killed my son in law and my brother Mirza Sadiq Beig was badly injured. Now, with his wife, widowed daughter and her three children migrated he was looking for shelter in Pakistan. He was in Lahore in a miserable condition and wanted to start business of Lorries. But he was disheartened by the cold behavior of relevant authorities. Commissioner Lahore wasted his time for three months and took no action against his application. Rahat Ali Beig complained and brought the situation in the notice of Ms. Fatima Jinnah that Commissioner Lahore had the permits but not issuing to him. Later he shifted to Sheikhupura with his family and requesting to Ms. Fatima Jinnah to take personal interest and order Commissioner Lahore to fulfill his requests. Muhammad Ismail 2-Royal Park Macleod Road, Lahore, wrote his worries on September 5, 1955 (Ismail, M, personal communication, September 5, 1955). He was a refugee from Amritsar and had a property costing Rs. 40,000 and had Rs. 500 monthly income in Amritsar. But after migration, in Pakistan he went into financial crisis terribly. He shared an incident as, during partition, his son Fazal Karim was the employ of Lahore Mint. According to him, at the time of partition, with the support of British, Hindu officers of the Mint were shifting Mint s gold and silver to India by vans illegally. The worth of this gold and silver was about Rs. 20 crores (Rizvi, 1986). He reported to Nawab Mamdot the CM of West Punjab, who took a stern action and stopped the vans near Wahga border and sent the
Jamil gold and silver back to Lahore Mint. But Govt. did not give any response or reward to him. Even now he was suffering because of growing miserable financial condition and looking for further help. ZohraKhatoon, daughter of Sheikh Niaz Muhammad Rais-e-AzamBathindha (Patiala State) now in Mughalpura Lahore, shared her pains with Ms. Fatima Jinnah on June 14, 1948 (Khatoon, Z, personal communication, June 14, 1948). Her father was the State s General Contractor. He had certain landed property Ahata Niaz Ganj near Bathindha Railway Station. They were living in a lavish home and other homes were rented out. On August 19, 1947, early in the morning, a Sikh militant band attacked their home and killed 17 family members including children and youngsters. Sikhs looted everything. She reached Lahore from Jullundur only with two young girls of the family. Now she had not a single chair or bed for rest, natives were not ready to co-operate with her. In her letter, she was begging for a house and financial aid for living expenses. Her miserable condition required immediate help to survive. Another refugee widow of late Sher Ali Khan of Azad Kashmir from Quetta, wrote to Ms. Fatima Jinnah on June 19, 1948 as, in the partition violence, her husband and elder son both were killed (Khan, S, personal communication, June 19, 1948). She migrated with 4 younger children and settled in Quetta. She had no financial support and living a gloomy life. She was requesting to provide jobs to his young sons or to make arrangements to send them back to Kashmir. She was begging for sympathy and instant help. Sarwari Begum W/O Shah Muhammad Ibrahim, a refugee from UP, sketched her story from Block 9 Dera Ghazi Khan Punjab on October 23, 1954. She belonged to a noble and gentle family (Begum, S, personal communication, October 23, 1954). Her husband was surveying Central Govt. of India but after partition, family migrated to Pakistan. Here, his officers removed him from the job and now he was jobless and suffering from certain critical financial condition. Because of financial issues, family was much disturbed and depressed. She requested to Ms. Jinnah for some financial assistance and any job for her husband. She was hopeful for assistance. Mehr-ul-Nisa Begum a refugee from India wrote to Ms. Fatima Jinnah on January 14, 1950, and expressed her stern problems. She had no place to live and was currently living with one of his relatives. Her husband was an old, jobless person but had a good approach on English, Persian and Urdu. She had a young son with the qualification of 41
Partition of India: A Review on Refugees Dilemma B.A/L.L. B. He had applied many times for jobs but found nothing. She was writing for the job of his son to solve the financial issue of the family. Rao Chhotey Khan from Kloor kot wrote to Ms. Fatima Jinnah on January 23, 1958 and shared his problems (Khan, R, personal communication, January 23, 1958). He said that as a refugee, I did not make any illegal occupancy of any property to live, even not entered any false claim for the allotment of any evacuee property. 28 of his family members had been killed during the partition violence in India. He had the responsibility of three daughters and a wife. He said that he was not able to pay bribes and had no references, so could not make any allotment. He was demanding the allotment of a small residential property to settle in Lyallpur. L Atif Ahmad, a refugee from Dera Don, indicated his miseries with Ms. Fatima Jinnah on January 24, 1958(Ahmad, A, personal communication, January 24, 1958). He was a serious patient of TB and was on bed in a meager condition. He had no relative but only an old father who could not support or make treatment of his sickness. Because of the worries, his disease was becoming sterner. In this miserable condition, he was severely looking for essential aid, he more requested to entertain his issue and do not throw this application in trash. This unfolds the gravity and seriousness of his conditions and he was looking for help. BashiranBibi a widow of Delhi wrote about her issues on November 14, 1948 from Karachi to Mother of the Nation, she shared that her son is missing since the Muslim genocide in India (Bibi, B, personal communication, November 14, 1948). I have with me his wife and 4 children. I have no other means of livelihood. Winter has come in and we are all without any clothes. I humbly request you to kindly to help us in our distress. Had there been Quaid-i-Azam I would have approached him, but I approach you as I find you in his stead. I will present myself and the other dependents when you will order me to do so at your place. Refugees also wanted to become independent and did not want to become a burden on the new born state. This validates their dignity and sincerity for beloved homeland. They recognized these miseries are transitory phenomenon; they wanted to face troubles decently and with stuffed confidence. Shirin Bai Ghazanfar wrote to Ms. Fatima Jinnah on December 3, 1948: I am a bonafide refugee of Godhra 300 miles away from Bombay (Ghazanfar S personal
Jamil communication, December 3, 1948). My own house and property have been set on fire by the Hindu Goondas in the recent terrible communal riot in Delhi. She wrote to Ms. Jinnah that you must get it from the Newspapers. She suffered much and facing massive troubles because she was a widow and had eight children, moreover, she arrived in the capital of the Islamic State, Pakistan. Shirin Bai requested in her letter that she is master in sewing and cloth cutting and demanding a Singer sewing machine for an honorable livelihood. Through a memorandum on July 23, 1955 on behalf of Kashmiri refugees, Ghulam Nabi Bazaz, Amir-ud-Din, Wali Mohamed Adil, Ghulam Quadir, Feroz Din Khan and Sanna Uallah Butt pointed out the distinctness of Kashmir dispute and the reservations of Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan in detail (Bazaz, G, personal communication, July 23, 1955). According to them, because of the sad demise of the death of Quaid-i-Azam, the Kashmir turned into a knotty problem. They declared 1947 to 1955 mortal seven years. There is no doubt that the negotiations were bound to fail in spite of the best and sincerest efforts of our leaders. Bhartis have proved to be most unreasonably intransigent. It is admitted on all hands that the Hindu understands only the language of compulsion and force where a clash of interests is involved. Moreover, they put allegations on their weak leadership of the failure to make Bharat agree on the free and fair plebiscite in Kashmir. Regarding rehabilitation of Kashmiri refugees, they pointed out that only the influential persons have been rehabilitated and aided by the Refugee Council in Sialkot, Gujranwala and the other border cities of the Punjab. But the common refugees and refugees from far areas of Jammu are still in miserable conditions in camps. The refugees from Kashmir valley have not been resettled so far. They are suffering double disadvantages; on one hand, they are not allowed to re-enter the valley and on the other hand, they are not accorded with the treatment they deserve in Azad Kashmir or Pakistan at the end they were hopeful by saying that it was our painful duty to apprise you of these painful facts and we hope you will see that things are set right as far as possible (Haqqani, 2005).After partition in Pakistan natives had a divine spirit to support and help out the refugee brothers and sisters. The issues of the refugees were not an issue of any individual but an issue of the nation. Government administration also had the same spirit but a gigantic volume of refugees overburdened them. Shujaat Ali Khan Deputy Rehabilitation Officer Gujar Khan (Rawalpindi) voluntarily surrendered 5% of his salary in Quaid-i-Azam Kashmir Relief Fund. He more said I shall continue to contribute this humble donation as long as the rehabilitation work continues. Moreover, Assistant Administrative Officer Sind Industrial Trading Estate Ltd. contributed his one day salary to the Kashmir Relief Fund. 43
Partition of India: A Review on Refugees Dilemma From Bhopal House Malir City; Karachi 23, Princess Abida Sultaan of Bhopal, on August 17, 1953, offered her services to Ms. Fatima Jinnah (Sultana, A, personal communication, August 17, 1953). She wrote for the first time this morning, I came to know, through the newspaper, of the enthusiasm being shown by the ladies of Pakistan, in connection with the developments in Kashmir. Living out in Malir, certainly cuts one off from the happenings in Karachi. However, may I take this opportunity of offering my services once again, to be utilized in any form or sphere, that may be considered necessary. In making this offer, Dear Miss Jinnah, I most genuinely and sincerely offer my life, blood and brawn, which I ardently hope will be accepted and used to the greatest of advantage. Syed Iqbal Husain, a refugee, fromgolimar Hut, 1261, Karachi No. 18, wrote a letter full of grievances to Ms. Fatima Jinnah (Husain, I, personal communication, March 1950). He recalled his services for League and shared them with her. He complained that he went to the residence of Fatima Jinnah with his family in March 1950, but the guards misbehaved with them and did not arrange his meeting with Ms. Fatima Jinnah. With insult and without the meeting, they returned. It was disheartening for him. He more wrote Aahabgharibonka ye haal ho gaya (oh now this is the status of poor). This shows the sensitivity, pliability and respect of Fatima Jinnah in the eyes of refugees but the behavior of her guards and servants disheartened the refugees. Even this created a sense of inferiority amongst them because they had some expectations with her. Nekaa S/O Sanol, a refugee from East Punjab living in Jaam SahibTahsil, Dist.Nawabshah Sind on July 12, 1958, he wrote his issues to Ms. Fatima Jinnah. In his letter, he complained against the waderaas (big landlords) of Sind (Nekaa, personal communication, July 12, 1958). He described that SindhiWaderaas are big obstacles in the settlement of refugees in Sind. They are creating hurdles worries for refugees. He wrote many applications to DC, SP, CM West Pakistan and PM Pakistan but no response received yet. He was demanding attention and help for God s sake against the cruelties and monopolization of Sindhi Waderaas. Refugees also shared their personal and domestic issues with Ms. Jinnah in their letters. Saeeda Begum from Lahore, a refugee from India, shared her problem on August 22, 1958 (Begum, S, personal communication, August 22, 1958). Her husband served the military but contemporarily her husband s earning is very much thin and domestic economic
Jamil conditions are very much frustrated. Her daughter is adult now and now she wanted to do her marriage (Nikah) with simplicity and requesting for some financial assistance in this regard. Faqir Muhammad, a refugee from India living in 3/56 M. B. Khushab, after partition, presented his complaint to Ms. Fatima Jinnah by letter on August 20, 1957 (Muhammad, F, personal communication, August 20, 1957). During migration, 27 persons of his tribe were killed. He complained that in the elections, he voted to Ms. Jinnah with hope but received no help yet. Now he was a sweeper in Anglo-vernacular school 3/56 M.B Khushab. He shared his sentiments to her, as he gave vote to improve his status and honor but he has become a sweeper now. He was requesting for some help and agricultural land for a courteous livelihood. On August 18, 1958, emergency meeting of United Board Refugees Quetta, Division Quetta held for the uplift and to solve the issues of the refugees in Quetta. Board s Secretary Muhammad Ilyas Khan, presented following suggestions to Ms. Fatima Jinnah on August 25, 1958: 1. This meeting demands that unless all the claims are verified and arrangements to rehabilitate the unsettled refugees are made, no evacuee property be sold. 2. This meeting demands that the evacuee property in possession of the refuges be given to the claim holders in satisfaction to their claims and the other refugees on easy installments keeping in view its constructed value, present depreciated condition and the age of the property. 3. This meeting demands that in view of the peculiar circumstances of Quetta which exists nowhere else in Pakistan, a special commission duly represented by refugees, be appointed to determine the value of the evacuee. Meetings of All Pakistan Muhajir Board held on April 11, 1956 at Aram Bagh, Lahore. It was presided by Ahmad E. H. Jafar, proceedings are in detail part of Fatima Jinnah Papers File No. 447. Additionally, the proceedings of the 2 nd All Pakistan Muhajir Convention which was held on 12 th and 13 th January 1957 at YMCA Hall and outside Mochi Gate Garden, Lahore, are also the part of the FJ Papers File No. 448. Sana Ullah Khan Shaidaa was the convener of the All Pakistan Muhajir Convention ; Dr. Syed Mohammad Sharif Muttaqi was the Chairman Reception Committee. Moreover, American vice Council Mr. Frederick U. 45
Partition of India: A Review on Refugees Dilemma Wells and Nawab Sajjad Ali Khan Deputy Minister also attended above said convention. Following were the important points of the approved Resolution: 1. The meeting calls upon the Pakistan Government to restore the Muslim property confiscated at the 1 st war of Independence, 1857, and that the Muhajirs who fell under that category should be granted compensation for the confiscated property. 2. that the allotments of agricultural lands made in the name of refugees from AlwarandBharatpur states should not be cancelled in the absence of Jamabandis. The Govt. rather should make immediate arrangements for the availability of the land record of those states. 3. The meeting calls upon the Government to refrain from auctioning evacuee property. 4. The meeting calls upon the Government to treat the Kashmiri refugees at par with other refugees. 5. Govt. immediately allot the agricultural lands to those refugees who were not allotted lands 6. that plots in the new Pak Colony at Jaranwala should be allotted to the refugees giving priority over locals. 7. This meeting appreciates the step taken in speeding up the verification of claims by the Central Government and offer its full support in the efforts of O. S.D., Central Rehabilitation Authorities, to prove into irregular and multiple allotments illegally held by influential persons and high ups. Moreover, the Resolutions of the claim holders conference held on 24 th and 25 th February 1957 Jahangir Park Karachi, are also the part of the FJ File 448. This conference was held to highlight the issues of the claim holders and evacuee property. Women s Refugee Rehabilitation Association was founded to rehabilitate the refugees which was managed by the women. Its important meeting was held in 1959, which was also attended by Ms. Fatima Jinnah to share and discuss the important efforts and activities of the Association. This meeting held in Karachi and attended by 32 members including Begum S. Muhammad Ali Habib, Begum SurayaShamim, Begum Akhtar Husain, Begum Shaukat Ali Khan, Begum Fayyaz Ali, Begum Fahmida Khan, Begum Fazal Ahmad, Begum Ayesha Noorani, Begum SidiqueWahaband Begum Syed Ahmad eminently. Women Refugee Rehabilitation Association also built a colony for the refugees in Karachi. Foreign visitors
Jamil and observers visited this refugee colony and appreciated the services rendered by the Association. Later a mosque to meet the religious needs of the residents of the colony was also built by Begum Abdul Hafiz, Secretary of the Association at her own cost. The Association constructed more 250 quarters in this colony with the total sum of Rs2.5 lakh while Govt. allotted the land only for 250 quarters. Furthermore, the Association spent Rs. 750 to Rs. 800 on each quarter (Singh, 2009). A maternity center and an industrial center was also the part of this Colony. Additionally, a primary school was also constructed in 1953 in the colony for the early education of the refugee children; in 1957, the number of the students in this school was 200. On November 5, 1951, refugees of Anjuman Mahajirin, Khudadad colony, Karachi No. 5 also wrote the issues of this colony of refugees in detail. They were extremely worried about the colony. Their issues are the part of File No. 445 of FJ Papers. 47
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