Naseer Ahmad Malhi
Chaudhry Nasseer Ahmad Malhi (Urdu: چودھری نصیر احمد ملہی)
A historical figure in subcontinent politics, Chaudhry Nasseer Ahmad Malhi played a pivotal role in the formation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and is recognised as one of the nation’s founding fathers.
Commonly referred to as Lord Malhi for his larger than life personality, ostentatious get-togethers and largesse, Chaudhry Nasser Ahmad Malhi served as Punjab Minister for Law, education and parliamentary affairs in 1955.
Chaudhry Nasser Ahmad Malhi was a leading member of Muslim League and was at the forefront of the Pakistan Movement. A life time member for the Muslim League, Chaudhry Nasser Ahmad Malhi belonged to the gentry of Punjab.
His father Chaudhry Ghulam Haider Malhi was the leading aristocrat of his district and amongst the landed elites of Punjab. He was noted for this philanthropy and was decorated by the British Governor for his services to the community.
Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi's great-grandfather, Chaudhry Ali Gohar Malhi, served as the Governor for Punjab during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. [1]
Birth and Family
Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi was born the second son of Chaudhry Ghulam Haider Malhi.
His year of birth was registered as 1913 in the town of BaddoMalhi in the then District Sialkot. It is however common knowledge amongst immediate family members that his year of birth was in 1911.
Apart from an elder brother, Lord Malhi had two elder sisters and two younger sisters.
He had three sons and two daughters, however only two sons and a daughter survived adolescence.
Education
Lord Malhi received his primary and secondary education at Ghulam Haider Muslim High School (commonly abbreviated as GH Muslim High School).
GH Muslim High school was founded in 1918 by Chaudhry Ghulam Haider Malhi as a service to the Muslim population of his district.
Heeding the call of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Chaudhry Ghulam Haider Malhi founded this school as his bid to educate aspiring students.
The school was noted for offering free tuition and books for economically disadvantaged pupils. The education expenses of these students were personally maintained by Chaudhry Ghulam Haider.
After completing his secondary education, Lord Malhi obtained a Bachelors of Law from University of the Punjab, Lahore.
Political career
Pre Partition
Chaudhry Nasser Ahmad Malhi began his political career with the Indian National Congress party. He shortly realised that All India Muslim League held greater potential in representing the Muslim population of India.
Lord Malhi joined the Sialkot chapter of the Muslim League. His intellectual gifts became apparent and he rapidly rose to become the President of this chapter.
His meteoritic rise continued and he soon became a prominent member of the Muslim league. At the age of 26 he met Quaid-i-Azam at Jinnah House in Malabar Hill, Bombay.
It was on the advise of Lord Malhi that the historical Sialkot Convention was planned in Punjab.
Held in Sialkot city in May 1944, this convention was attended by Quaid-i-Azam, Liaquat Ali Khan, Khawaja Nazimuddin, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, |Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan, Mumtaz Ahmad Khan Daultana, Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan of Mamdot and Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan amongst other Muslim League luminaries. [2]
This convention is widely regarded as the landmark event which catapolted Muslim League into prominence in undivided Punjab.
The Sialkot convention was a milestone in Muslim - Hindu politics. It broke the strangle hold that Indian National Congress held over the Muslim population of Punjab.
The convention swayed the Muslim sentiment towards the Pakistan Movement and became a historical event for the Muslim League which led to the eventual formation of Pakistan.
Acknowledging the convention's impact Quaid-E-Azam commented I have a feeling today, that Pakistan has come into existence.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah attributed the success of this convention to Lord Malhi. Embracing him he stated Mr Malhi, no doubt, you are Lord Malhi. [3]
Post Partition
After independence Chaudhry Naseer Malhi remained a prominent legislator.
As an active member of Pakistan’s political elite, he served as the Minister of Education, Law and Parliamentary affairs.
It was during his tenure that school uniforms were introduced through out Pakistan.
He was also responsible for excluding Aitchison College from the list of schools receiving government assistance. His reasoning being that elite institutions such as Aitchison did not need financial aid from the government.
Lord Malhi was designated the leadership for Pakistan's delegation to the Geneva Convention in 1955. He delivered a speech defending the rights of Afro-Asian countries. He received a Gold Medal from the convention.
Following this success, Lord Malhi lead Pakistan’s delegation to the United Nations in the same year.
There he addressed the United Nations assembly on the political challenges facing the subcontinent. His speech was recognised for it’s insightful message and he was awarded by the sitting assembly.
In an effort to raise Pakistan’s profile Lord Malhi hosted a dinner for Eleanor Roosevelt, President of the United Nations General Assembly and former First Lady of the United States. [4]
With the advent of Marshall Law in the early sixties, Chaudhry Nasser Ahmad Malhi became a vociferous opponent to the government of Mohammad Ayub Khan. In 1965 he allied with and supported Fatima Jinnah in her bid to democratically dislodge Ayub Khan from his assumed office.
A close personal friend of the Nawab of Kalabagh, he was offered several Ministerial posts during his tenure as Chief Minister of West Pakistan however he declined due to ideological differences.
He was later offered a Ministerial post by Gen.Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq but he again refused.
He successfully retained his seat in the National Assembly until 1971. With the dismemberment of East Pakistan and disappointed with the corrupt politics of the ensuing politicians, Lord Malhi unofficially withdrew from electoral politics.
Despite his withdrawal from active political life, he remained an established member of Pakistan’s elite intellectual and political circles.
Author
Concurrent to his political career, Chaudhry Nasser Malhi authored a 30 volume exegesis of the Holy Qur'an. The book entitled Tafseer-ul-Quran was published in the 1950s and was widely distributed amongst literary circles. [5]
Legacy
Chaudhry Nasser Ahmad Malhi passed away peacefully on 12th July 1991.
An egalitarian, he left behind a legacy of high character, an incorruptible integrity and a selfless approach in both his political and personal lives.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah rated him amongst his most able men.
Pakistan recognises him as one of it’s most dedicated founding fathers.
Lord Malhi's nobility touched the lives of all those who knew him.
Trivia
Lord Malhi was a close relative of Pakistan's legendary poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
[1] Chaudhry Ali Gohar Malhi governed all lands between River Chenab and River Ravi. This encompassed the area between Wazirabad to Sialkot and from Sialkot to Shahdara.
[2] The bill for Sialkot convention was paid by Lord Malhi’s father Chaudhry Ghualm Haider Malhi, who was the largest and most affluent landlord in District Sialkot at that time. This was unique for the Muslim League.
[3] Lord Malhi was the Chairman of the reception committee for the Sialkot Convention.
[4] He made history by becoming the first Asian man to host such a dinner and pay from his personal resources.
[5] Tafseer-ul-Quran, published 1952 by Amalgamated Press Sialkot (Kathian wala Bazaar) under Syed Nasir Mahmood, President Sialkot City Muslim League.
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