PESHAWAR: The Department of Management Sciences and the Department of Pakistan Studies at Islamia College Peshawar jointly organised a commemorative ceremony to mark a day of exceptional significance in the history of the Pakistan Movement.
On this day in 1933, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, along with two students of Islamia College Peshawar - poet and former governor Aslam Khattak and Inayatullah of Charsadda - and Sahibzada Sheikh Muhammad Sadiq, a member of the Khyber Union (London Branch) and a student of the University of Cambridge, signed a historic declaration demanding a separate homeland for the Muslims of British India. This demand was later published in the form of a pamphlet titled “Now or Never” on January 28, 1933.
Islamia College Peshawar holds a unique distinction in this historic struggle, as the Khyber Union played a pivotal role in presenting the concept of a separate Muslim homeland and proposing the name “Pakistan.” In remembrance of this milestone, the ceremony was held at the Khyber Union Hall, a venue closely associated with this historic legacy.
The chief guest on the occasion was Professor Dr Hanif Khalil, Director of the National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. In his address, he said that Islamia College Peshawar and Islamia Collegiate School have produced many eminent personalities, including renowned Sufi poet Baba-e-Ghazal Hamza Shinwari, Ashraf Maftoon, former radio station director, former governor Dawood Veno Jam, and Aslam Khattak, former president of the London-based Khyber Union. He noted that Aslam Khattak, along with Inayatullah of Charsadda - both students of Islamia College - was among the signatories who joined Chaudhry Rehmat Ali in endorsing the name of Pakistan.
Dr Jehanzaib Shaoor, in-charge of the Khyber Union, performed the duties of stage secretary. In the concluding session, Dr Razaullah, Chairman of the Department of Management Sciences, and Dr Noor-ul-Amin presented shields to the distinguished guests.
