Death anniversary of PM's father on Thursday

MULTAN: The death anniversary of noted political figure and philanthropist Late Syed Alamdar Hussain Shah Gilani, the father of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani,will be observed on Thursday.

Alamdar Gilani was one of those political figures whom people of Multan will never forget for his selfless services. He left a visible and pleasant impact on the social and political life of the city and his services in health and education sector were commendable.

Syed Alamdar Gilani was born on December 12 in 1919in Multan and was given the name of Syed Abul Hassan Shah. Since he was born was on 8th of Moharramul Haram, his elders, relatives and friends started addressing him as 'Alamdar'which later became his identity.

He received primary education from Multan and Muzaffargarh. His father Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah had served as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Alipur tehsil of Muzaffargarh those days.

Alamdar Gilani passed BA examination in 1941 from Emerson College Multan to become the second man from his family to acquire education up to this level. He became associated with the Muslim League from student age and later remained engaged in its reorganization with his relative Syed Zainul Abideen Shah.

He entered practical politics after Pakistan emerged as an independent country on the world map. In 1953, the then chief minister Punjab Feroz Khan Noon inducted him in his cabinet as the minister for health and local bodies.

While serving people in this capacity, Syed Alamdar Gilani established district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals in Multan, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, and Dera Ghazi Khan. He played a pivotal role in establishment of Nishtar Medical College in Multan besides upgradation and extension in facilities at MayoHospital, and TB Hospital in Murree.

He served education sector by launching Anjuman-e-Islamia in Multan with the help of his brothers and other relatives.

The Gilani family made successful efforts from the platform of Anjuman-e-Islamia and established educational institutions like Wilayat Hussain Islamia College, Alamdar Hussain College, Gilani Law College, Ghulam Mustafa Shah Girls College and othersin Multan.

The great political personality of Multan, who proved by his acts that politics was the name of service to the people, died on August 9, 1978 (3rd Ramazan ul Mubarak).