Begum Abida Qutubuddin Aziz Passes away

Begum Aziz, wife of former diplomat and chairman of National Press Trust and Managing Editor of United Press of Pakistan, died in Karachi on January 18th after being hospitalized for an ailment.

Begum Abida Aziz was the second daughter of Nawab Mushtaq Ahmed Khan who was the Agent-General of the Hyderabad State in Pakistan because Pakistan hadn’t recognized the military takeover of the state of Hyderabad and the issue continues to be on the Security Council Agenda.

Begum Abida Aziz completed her graduation from the prestigious Kinnaird College, Lahore. After her marriage to Qutubuddin Aziz she took interest in social welfare activities and different NGOs. She helped project a wonderfully positive image of Pakistani women in the UK when her husband, Qutubuddin Aziz, was posted at the Pakistan High Commission, London. Abida Aziz was a great supporter of education and healthcare for the underprivileged. She worked on the working committee of the Womens’ Refugee Rehabilitation Association, which runs a high school with 500 students in the Shah Faisal Colony of Karachi. She also helped a number of charities in Karachi and donated money to indigent persons for the healthcare of their families. She was helping in the building of shrine for Ahmed Sahib, a Muslim scholar of repute in Karachi. She was a contributor to schools and health centers in the home village of her father, Jaranwala, in Punjab.

In Britain, she joined her husband in promoting the social services of the All Pakistan Women’s Association and was active in its UK branch in cooperation with many British charities. She was also very active in the Kinnaird College Old Students Association of Karachi. According to her husband, she was an excellent and devoted wife to him and a most caring mother to all their children.

She leaves behind four children, Samina Qasim, married to the famous cricketer, Iqbal Qasim, Fariha Khan living in Dubai, Anila Ali and Farhan Aziz who live in Irvine, California.

Pakistan Link shares the grief of the family on the sad demise of Mrs Aziz. May her soul rest in peace and Allah grant Mr Qutubuddin Aziz and his children the fortitude and courage to bear the loss. (Ameen)