The corner: Sheryar Ali Malik

Sheryar Ali Malik, Senior Executive at Guard Group takes us through his favourite space — a family study that pays tribute to his late grandfather!



On a warm October evening we head over to Sheryar Ali Malik’s home — a home that has been with the family for more than 50 years. A massive driveway welcomes us and we spot Malik through a windowpane, sitting in his favourite space, the family study. We are quickly ushered in.

The brainchild of Malik, the idea to convert his late grandfathers room into a study was made possible by interior designer and architect, Omer Nabi. “My grandfather, Mohammed Shafi Malik, was the founder of our company and spent his last days in this room, so when he passed away it only made sense to convert this space into something that pays homage to the man that he was.” He points at a framed painting of a tie, credit cards, a wallet, and a mini autobiography of his grandfather, dominating the textured wall. “Instead of locking or distributing his personal items, not only did I wish to preserve them, but I wanted them to be displayed for the future generations to see. It was an idea which was made possible with the help of a few friends from National College of Arts,” Malik elaborates.



This is a contemporary space featuring rustic, earthy tones on textured walls. Framed portraits above a cosy fireplace, adorn the walls. Large windowpanes overlook a lush garden with a majestic fountain. A regal, panelled leather desk and armchairs stand out against the granite floor, while grand wooden shelves showcase various awards and shields along with books, which are the main attraction in this corner. We inquire about the flags displayed on a shelf, and Malik explains: “As my father is the vice chairman of SAARC the flags here represent the countries that are part of the organisation, since most official meetings are held in this space.”

An Amin Gulgee painting catches our eye which our host tells us was purchased from Karachi, when he and Omer Nabi, were in pursuit of finding a painting that did justice to the history of this space — and justice it does! Our eyes then shift to a small, wood and glass cabinet displaying a cricket bat, a cap and a ball. Malik informs us that the items once belonged to Wasim Akram, and were bought at an auction for flood relief victims. It was then personally autographed by the cricketer for Malik’s daughter, Mumtaz.



“As this house has been in the family for years, this room has been rotated between many family members, from my uncles, aunts to even me at one point, so there are a lot of memories attached in here. Every morning, even if it’s just for a second, I love coming down to this study. It’s like taking a walk down memory lane.” From a prolific family’s legacy to high-profile business meetings, this room has seen it all. We leave in awe of this space, though small in size, it is full of history and rich in memories.