KARACHI: Educationist, scholar and the former director-general of colleges in Sindh, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Rafiq Siddiqui, passed away on Wednesday at Aga Khan Hospital after suffering a heart attack.
“Baba had been fighting diabetes for the past 20 years but had never told us about heart problems,” said his son Kashif Rafiq Ahmed Siddiqui. “It was a sudden attack and he breathed his last at AKU at 12:06 pm.”
Siddiqui taught for 26 years and served at a number of senior posts before his retirement in March 2010 as DG Colleges.
Siddiqui, son of Mohammad Buksh Siddiqui, hailed from Shikarpur and did his Master’s in Chemistry. His career started at Superior Science College, Shah Faisal Colony in 1974 where he became a lecturer. In 1982, he was sent to Nigeria on deputation for three years and upon his return in 1985, he joined DJ Science College and taught there for five years. In 1990, Siddiqui went to the UK on a scholarship for a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Surrey.
He returned to Pakistan after completing his PhD in 1995 and was sent to Lyari College as a professor by the then minister. He remained there till 1997 when he was transferred to SM Science College for six months then to Admajee Science College. During this time he also held the post of senior vice principal of Sukkur Public School for a few months.
In 2000, the then minister posted him as the director of colleges for the Sukkur region where he worked till 2002. He was made the first EDO Education for Khairpur, then of Shikarpur and then Nawabshah. In 2004, he became the EDO of Karachi and served till 2006 when the post of DG Colleges was introduced.
Professor Dr Nasir Ansar, who is the current DG and a friend, said that people like him were born only every few centuries.
Siddiqui is survived by his spouse, daughter and three sons, Asif, Kashif and Dr. Atif.
He will be laid to rest at Mewa Shah Graveyard on Thursday after Zuhr prayers. His namaz-e-janaza will be offered at Siddique Akbar Masjid, Garden West near Garden Traffic Police Chowki. The family can be contacted at 0333 21 67 894.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2010.
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