The Capital Development Authority (CDA) took 63 long years to honor the family of Qazi Abdur Rehman Amritsari, who coined the name of Islamabad in 1959.
Teacher, poet, and novelist Mr. Qazi was born in Amritsar, British India, in 1908; he later moved to Pakistan with his family and settled in Arifwalla.
President Ayub Khan appointed a three-person group to recommend a new location for the federal capital when he decided to replace Karachi. The proposed location is close to Rawalpindi. The site received approval.
Then, the late Majid Nizami, editor of the weekly Qandeel Lahore, asked readers for proposals for a new name for the city.
Many people reacted and offered many names, but the one proposed by Qazi Abdur Rehman was selected in February 1960 by the federal government led by President Ayub, according to a BBC Urdu story from the previous year.
According to the story, Mr. Nizami attempted unsuccessfully to secure a meeting with President Ayub to present Rs. 1,000 in prize money to Qazi Abdur Rehman, so he decided to pay the instructor directly.
The federal capital commission later replied to Mr. Qazi’s letter by writing to him on April 15, 1960, saying: “The undersigned is directed to refer to your letter dated the 11th March 1960, addressed to President of Pakistan and to say that your name has been registered for a plot of in [new capital] Islamabad.”
According to the report, Mr. Qazi lived for 30 years after receiving the letter in expectation of the president’s promise before passing away in 199
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) was formally founded in June 1960, which was two months after the aforementioned letter. But, it paid little attention to the promise that the president had made to the school teachers.
But 63 years later, the CDA led by Noorul Amin Mengal has finally agreed to give the Qazi Abdur Rehman family the long-delayed plot.
“Yes, we are going to allot the plot to the family of this great teacher, who proposed the name of Islamabad. I am disappointed as to why he was not given the promised plot in his life.
At the same time, I am pleased that for the time now, we will carry out the estate’s pledge from 1960, the CDA chairman.
He said that he had learned about the unfulfilled promise from one of his acquaintances and that he immediately ordered the relevant wing to locate Mr. Qazi’s family.
The family of the abovementioned teacher resides in Arif Walla, according to CDA Chairman, and will be contacted shortly by a team from the civic organization.
“We will allot them a developed and encumbrance-free plot,” he said and added that CDA is trying to invite the family of the said teacher to the upcoming Islamabad Literature Festival, where they will be honored.
