By: Tanveer Mir
Qazi Nisar Ahmad was born in 1952 and completed his early education in Nusrat ul Islam in Islamabad. In 1968 he topped the class 10th board exams in the state of J&K and earned highest score in Kashmir province in 1970 class 12th board exams. He later studied at Aligarh Muslim University [AMU] where his political activities began to be noticed as he went on to complete his MA and M Phil in Islamic studies besides studying law.
He was awarded a gold medal for his efforts while completing his his PhD in 1985 and also became the 1st Kashmiri to study Al Azhar University in Cairo Egypt.
He was a learned man and highly conscious of all the socio-political and religious issues which led him to be active regarding different issues at an early age of 19. It was the time when he was arrested for the first time for organizing a protest against the Govt.
Dr Qazi Nisar was a beacon of bravery and will always be remembered for the role he played in creating political awareness among masses and for his social welfare efforts. He was an acknowledged religious scholar and a great orator who launched numerous campaigns among masses to make them aware about their political rights. He dedicated his whole life for the service of Islam and for Kashmiri people
An epitome of bravery, Qazi Nisar had an open and clear stance against the then governor Jagmohan is a testimony to his fearless political views and stances. Subsequently, he was booked for nearly a year when he slaughtered a cow in Islamabad Lal Chowk in protest against ban on cow slaughter.
He was an enthusiastic human right activist and documented human rights violations in Kashmir and also reported them to various human rights bodies including RED CROSS SOCIETY, AMMENSTY INTERNATIONAL etc. He also presented memoranda to UNO members and Islamic nations including Egypt ,Iraq, Iran and other nations.
Qazi Nissar founded socio religious organization ‘UMMATI ISLAMI’ in 1985. He was approached several times by agencies from both sides but he never showed any allegiance with any of them having a firm belief that people were his power and support. He never accepted any type of security from government even when he was residing in a volatile situation like Kashmir.
Dr Qazi Nissar was earlier appointed as professor at Arabic department in Kashmir University in 1984. He quit his job and chose to work for his people. After his father’s death he became the chief preacher at Jamia Masjid Islamabad and denounced a life of luxury and comforts. He travelled long distances to far off villages to have interaction with people at ground level facing problems and always worked for unity among different religious groups and tried his level best to bring them under single platform. For this he also got support from main leaders including Professor Abdul Gani Bhat ,Aabas Ansari ,Ghulam Qadir Wani and many others at that time in 1985. By this unification Qazi Sahib was able to form Muthaid United Front (MUF).
Dr Nissar role was prominent in it and played an important role in carrying the MUF movement forward. He always raised voice against the oppressor and represented peoples voice in a bold way .In 1984 he laid the foundation of Islamic research Institute where hundreds of poor children receive education and the institution is still carrying the mission forward under the leadership of his son and Mirwiaz South Kashmir Dr Qazi Yasir. He was also an prolific author and writer and has written a number of Islamic books on different topics besides opening a network of schools, libraries and Masjids that taught thousands of children. He was a great social reformer having higher intellectual knowledge and wisdom. “My aim is not to create a society of teachers but to create a society that need no teachers,” he would say.
He was a great patriot and never accepted the life of slavery. On June 19 1994, Dr Qazi Nissar was ASSASSINATED by unidentified gunman in Daligam Islamabad. With this his life came to end and Kashmir suffered a great loss. His martyrdom shall never be forgotten!
