Flashback: Pakistan’s second birth anniversary

Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani was appointed country’s first ambassador to Washington DC from 1947 to 1952

Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani, a trusted lieutenant of the Quaid and a tireless worker for Pakistan’s independence, was appointed the country’s first ambassador to Washington DC from 1947 to 1952.

Here, he is pictured cutting a cake decorated with the Pakistan flag on August 14th, 1949 at the Pakistan Embassy at an Independence Day reception for officials, staff and their families. Standing next to him is my mother Ruhafza Hyder. To her left is Dr Riffat Rasheed, her old friend from Model Town, Lahore, then a student at Columbia University. Dr Rasheed went on to become a distinguished professor in Pakistan. She was the sister of Brigadier Shami, who gave his life in service of the country during the 1965 war.

PHOTO & TEXT: REHANA HYDER

CONCEPT: SANAM MAHER

DESIGN: SAMRA AMIR

This August, The Express Tribune featured photographs from contributions to an open call for images from the struggle for independence and Pakistan’s formative years. This feature will now continue online at

www.tribune.com.pk.

Here’s to your memories!

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2014.