Evolution of politics through the eyes of a barrister
The book, which Shaikh started writing in 2007, has been compiled by Humair Ishtiaq.
The book, which Shaikh started writing in 2007, has been compiled by Humair Ishtiaq.
KARACHI:
Renowned late barrister, Azizullah Shaikh, who rubbed shoulders with Pakistan’s top political leaders, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, was unable to pen down his experiences during his life. But almost six years after his passing, his daughter Naseem Islam, succeeded in narrating Shaikh’s stories through a book.
The book, Story Untold: From Bhutto to Benazir, which was compiled and edited by Humair Ishtiaq, was launched at the Karachi Arts Council on Monday.
Justice (Retd) Majida Rizvi, who was Shaikh’s student at the SM Law College and later worked as a lawyer during the time Shaikh was a judge of the Sindh High Court, believed that such committed people are a rare breed in the country. “He was an interesting person and dedicated to his profession.” She called the book ‘historical’, saying her mentor had elaborated facts precisely.
Seasoned politician Sardar Sherbaz Khan Mazari, who was the chief guest at the event and only spoke a few words due to his ailment, said that the country deserved good people like Shaikh. “He was honest and one of the good ones,” he said.
Dr Jaffar Ahmed of the Karachi University opined that education institutes in the country have stopped producing politically aware people. “We have political leaders with foreign degrees but who lack political wisdom,” he said. “Books of serious nature on political history are seldom written. Shaikh’s book is an addition to the political history of Pakistan.”
Ishtiaq, while analysing different chapters of the books, discussed the author’s experiences during different political governments and dictatorships. According to him, the late barrister was a secular and liberal person and dreamt of a democratic Pakistan.
Shaikh, who belonged to Sukkur, got married to an Italian girl, Adriana Raimendo, but no one from his family could speak Sindhi. “My mother always insisted that my father speak to us [his children] in Sindhi,” Islam told The Express Tribune. “He was a great father and a great husband.”
Shaikh was suggested by his friends to author a book on the multiple political scenarios during his time. He started writing the book in 2007 but passed away the same year. “He couldn’t complete his book - I decided to try and make his dream come true,” said the barrister’s daughter, adding that she was in possession of countless historical data. “I have managed to record several documents of my father’s but hope that someone else will also compile and write more books on those materials.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2013.
Renowned late barrister, Azizullah Shaikh, who rubbed shoulders with Pakistan’s top political leaders, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, was unable to pen down his experiences during his life. But almost six years after his passing, his daughter Naseem Islam, succeeded in narrating Shaikh’s stories through a book.
The book, Story Untold: From Bhutto to Benazir, which was compiled and edited by Humair Ishtiaq, was launched at the Karachi Arts Council on Monday.
Justice (Retd) Majida Rizvi, who was Shaikh’s student at the SM Law College and later worked as a lawyer during the time Shaikh was a judge of the Sindh High Court, believed that such committed people are a rare breed in the country. “He was an interesting person and dedicated to his profession.” She called the book ‘historical’, saying her mentor had elaborated facts precisely.
Seasoned politician Sardar Sherbaz Khan Mazari, who was the chief guest at the event and only spoke a few words due to his ailment, said that the country deserved good people like Shaikh. “He was honest and one of the good ones,” he said.
Dr Jaffar Ahmed of the Karachi University opined that education institutes in the country have stopped producing politically aware people. “We have political leaders with foreign degrees but who lack political wisdom,” he said. “Books of serious nature on political history are seldom written. Shaikh’s book is an addition to the political history of Pakistan.”
Ishtiaq, while analysing different chapters of the books, discussed the author’s experiences during different political governments and dictatorships. According to him, the late barrister was a secular and liberal person and dreamt of a democratic Pakistan.
Shaikh, who belonged to Sukkur, got married to an Italian girl, Adriana Raimendo, but no one from his family could speak Sindhi. “My mother always insisted that my father speak to us [his children] in Sindhi,” Islam told The Express Tribune. “He was a great father and a great husband.”
Shaikh was suggested by his friends to author a book on the multiple political scenarios during his time. He started writing the book in 2007 but passed away the same year. “He couldn’t complete his book - I decided to try and make his dream come true,” said the barrister’s daughter, adding that she was in possession of countless historical data. “I have managed to record several documents of my father’s but hope that someone else will also compile and write more books on those materials.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2013.