I wonder how this darkness will ever end
After the demise of such great people
No matter how many panegyrics are written for Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi, the words will never be enough to fully reflect people’s feelings. He was a personality of his time and a figure in society’s history who knew how to bind society to the spirit of his culture. His personality was a blessing to the land of Manshera Hazara. He could speak eloquently and converse on religious, ethical, political, literary, and scientific topics without any equal or opponent. He kept the pain of suffering humanity close to his heart. He was a welfare community that always kept the sorrows and pains of the poor, the needy, the orphans, the disabled, the children, the girls, and the helpless within him and also prepared others to empathize with their sorrows.
Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi was the ray of light for the helpless, who transformed this work into the sun. If there was someone who served without distinction of color, race, or religion, it was Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi. He used to donate on the go. Caring for the sick and serving the helpless was his life.
He had a special connection with the famous columnist and a dear friend Javed Chaudhry’s column Zero Point. He’d not only ask other people to read this column, but also used to ask people to spread the word about good writing. Those who played with the fate of the country and the nation, and corrupt individuals, always appeared despicable to him. He used to incorporate patriotic poetry now and then into his conversations. Helping people, and solving their problems was the primary goal of his life. Needy people always came to them with their problems, whether for a job, financial assistance, or to express their household issues. He would succinctly and purposefully steer the discussion with eloquence and rhetoric. The caravan of selfless servants had such a leader who remained busy serving people.
Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi was a wanderer whose mere presence could make the world pay attention. He could achieve anything he desired, but he did not use his grand welfare projects as a means of personal advancement in a world where people exploit the smallest welfare projects for their political gain. His courage and determination began when the politicians of Hazara Division and government institutions lost hope. His insight and top-notch administration skills made even seemingly impossible tasks possible.
Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi primarily waged jihad and fought against corrupt systems and injustices. Rather than seeking proximity to the ruling elites, he preferred to stand with the common people. Every individual can learn from his countless interviews on social media about how he challenged the system and became the voice of the oppressed and marginalized. He never hesitated to speak up for the rights of the most vulnerable masses, even in front of the most powerful people.
This fearless and virtuous personality was born in Abbottabad in 1951. At a young age, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi migrated with his family to Mansehra, where his noble father, Muhammad Yaqub Qureshi, a person of high integrity and in the business profession, took him under his wing. He remained his sole companion from the age of fifty-five. Under his father’s tutelage, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi, along with his education, made a name for himself in business and society, increasing his influence.
From the decade of the 1970s, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi named success in every field of life which is witnessed by almost everyone in the Hazara division. In religious circles, Dr. Israr Ahmed and Maulana Ghulam Ghaus Hazarvi had a special relationship with him, and in political circles, his association with former President of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq led him to new heights.
Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi used to mention interesting and memorable events of his life. He shared that “Once I got the opportunity to indulge in a detailed conversation with General Zia-ul-Haq as our travel was delayed due to some security reasons. During the conversation, he got so impressed by my expression and insight that gave life to a never-ending relationship and friendship.”
General Zia-ul-Haq used to call him every week without fail. At that time, there were no social media, so communication was done through landline phones. Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi tells an interesting event that when a call from President’s House would come, the PTCL staff in Manshera used to assume that President Zia-ul-Haq’s call was for Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi. Once, after the afternoon prayer, President Zia-ul-Haq called Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi, however, at that time, Sheraz Sahab was taking a nap in the mosque. In his absence, the administration panicked. Out of love for Sheraz Sahab, the President waited long and when they finally got to speak, the President jokingly told him that mosques are the places to pray, not to nap. Later the President offered a lavish guest house built for him in Mansehra to rest which Sheraz Sahab politely refused.
When asked about their friendly relationship with the President over the years and what offers Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi received from him, he told that President Zia had wished for him to be a part of his cabinet, but he refused. Once during a meal, President Zia told Sheraz Sahab that there were three plots in Islamabad that he wanted to give Sheraz Sahab as a gift, which he refused to take. President Zia enquired why Sheraz Sahab always refused his offers, to which he replied,
“If today I take anything from you, my conscience and principles will bow down in front of you. Do you think I will be able to speak making eye contact with you then?”
During this time, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi also built a long-termed friendship with General Fazlul Haq, who was the Chief Minister at that time. Thanks to this, there was a record development work in Manshera.
Regarding Imran Khan, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi said that after the 1992 World Cup when Imran Khan started collecting donations for Shaukat Khanum, his first host was in the Manshera district. A big gathering was held at Zafar Ground where record funds were raised for Shaukat Khanum, and Imran Khan was always grateful to Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi for it. When he laid the foundation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, he invited Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi to join his party. After the 1997 elections, Sheraz Sahab had a 6-hour-long meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind along with Captain Safdar. The agenda was only about the common man and his problems.
Be it Dr. Israr Sahib, Abdul Majid Nadim Shah Sahib, the founder of Akhuwat, Dr. Amjad Saqib, or any other high-profile political or religious individual, everyone used to feel honored to visit Mansehra at the invitation of Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi. Bringing the very well-known International foundation Akhuwat to Mansehra and helping it in its operations was another success of Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi. Whenever the government took revengeful action against any religious or political personality, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi would strongly hinder them.
The famous personality, Abdul Majeed Shah Sahib, often mentioned in his statements that we used to get arrested from Pindi, but the lion of Manshera, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi, would not let us stay in custody even for a day and triumphed over everyone. Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi’s social work is highly praised, as even mountains tremble before him. Countless books can be written about Mr. Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi’s services, yet they still cannot fully capture his personality.
Things that petrify individuals from every school of thought are hospitals, police stations, and courts because these are the places where a person’s troubles multiply. But Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi’s presence in these places was a source of comfort and tranquility for the common and poor people. Along with being a board member of the hospital, Sheraz Mehmood remained the D.R.C Chairman of the District Mansehra. At that time, IG Akram Durrani not only trusted him in the formation of D.R.C in 2014 but also nominated him as Chairman for life. Under your supervision, D.R.C’s institution became an exemplary institution in the Mansehra division.
Every month, you helped hundreds of cases without any compensation, treating poor people with kindness and providing justice to them at their doorstep. As Chairman, he never received any allowances from your government time, but paid for the needy beggars on their way, providing them with food and paying their fare from his own pocket. SOS, various other welfare organizations, and mosques continued to operate under his patronage. He used to make the officials of multinational companies, government officials, and philanthropists visit the SOS. Trusting him, people left donations of millions for these institutions.
You helped hundreds of poor and orphaned children, not only in completing their education, but also by providing them with respectable jobs. There were four daughters of an extremely poor man from a village in Mansehra who were encouraged to become doctors, however, due to very low resources, there were unable to. Owing to special support from Sheraz Sahab, all of them are doctors today and are leading a good life.
He had such high regard for humanity that he used to look out for the laborers from his office window that didn’t get any daily wage. He would call these laborers inside his office and used to give them money from his own pockets to buy food for their children so that they would not go hungry.
Despite having all the resources he only performed Hajj and Umrah once in his lifetime and used to advise others for the same. He’d advise them to use that money instead for the welfare of those in need like getting orphan girls married. He himself got thousands of orphan girls married and assisted in the operations of various educational and water supply programs.
In particular, the commissioners, DCs, and DPOs appointed in the Hazara Division, especially Mansehra, were given instructions, to first go and receive a briefing from the Sheraz Sahab to ensure the safety and resolution of issues in their districts and tehsils, and then move forward with the aid of the administrations and through coordination with him. Every incoming administrator greatly respected him and appreciated his services. He always played a bridge between the administration and the public.
The example of the first initiative he took for the earthquake and Balakot victims cannot be found anywhere else. In 2017, Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to re-settle the earthquake-affected people who were living in cruel conditions in shelters and dilapidated houses for 14 years. When political representatives left the affected people helpless in difficult circumstances, clouds of despair spread everywhere. Then Chief Justice of Pakistan took notice of his petition. He continued to present himself as a representative of the earthquake victims and provided ample evidence, upon which Chief Justice Saqib Nisar addressed him as Professor Sahib. And then it happened, which no one had even imagined. Chief Justice Saqib Nisar was so impressed with his evidence and sincerity that he left all his work aside and went to Balakot with Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi during the hearing. In the 70 years of the history of Hazara, for the first time, a Chief Justice has visited Mansehra.
Since this case was directly related to some high-ranking officials of the government establishment, they tried to bribe and even tried to scare Sheraz Sahab with dangerous threats. But he did not back down an inch and stood firm with courage and perseverance. Finally, the Supreme Court also ruled in favor of the victims based on Sheraz’s strong evidence, exposing the corruption of billions of rupees in this case. He brought the Bakriyal city Project to help the earthquake-affected victims out of the clutches of oppression. Without a doubt, this is his remarkable achievement that future generations will always remember.
If you test your skills here, then test mine too
Let’s both tests, each other’s mettle and be comrades
Shiraz’s Mahmoud Qureshi was not just a person, he was a personality that stays immortal in the literature. When he walked or was present at an event, people would stop to see him. When he spoke, his words were like flowers blooming. And when he remained silent, people would gaze upon him with envy.
Sadly, this great personality suddenly passed away on January 8, 2023, leaving everyone shocked. The same dignity with which he lived, Allah Ta’ala took him away from this world. His death was mourned by the entire division, and tears were shed by everyone. He, who was known as the captain of funerals because he would participate in the sorrows of his loved ones and acquaintances, was accompanied by the whole city at his funeral.
The whole city gathered to send him away, remained in the hearts of the broken
He was Sheraz, Mehmood, and Ayaz, kept an invaluable companion in every corner
Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi’s funeral was the largest and most historic funeral in Mahsehra and the city was witnessed by the people with their own eyes. In reality, the whole city has become an orphan since his death. According to Mufti Kifayatullah,
“Mansehra is a small town where a very great man was born. The void his demise has created will not be filled for centuries and we do not see any alternative to his magnificence, no matter how far we look”.
The air of Hazara Division and the special district of Mansehra pays tribute to the great personality of Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi.
How to express the greatness of this person, whose standards are beyond words
This person amazes everyone, God blesses some with such excellence
Written by Yasir Ali, PS to Late Sheraz Mehmood Qureshi
