Prominent Pakistani Community Leader Hameed Ullah Khan Passes away in Chicago
Hameed Ullah Khan, the prominent Pakistani community leader, a senior journalist, and Pakistan United Parade Committee Founding Member, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th, 2020 at the age of 80 at the Swedish Covenant Hospital.
Hameed Ullah Khan was a pillar of the community. He lived just steps from Chicago's Devon Avenue. The neighborhood and its people were his life until November 5, when he was hospitalized with a COVID-19-related illness. The doctors had put him on a ventilator after his condition deteriorated last week.
Hameed Ullah Khan was the batchmate of General Pervez Musharraf at the Military Academy, Kakul. He used to reminisce about his good days of attending the Academy with Musharraf. Whenever General Pervez Musharraf visited Chicago, Hameed Ullah Khan was always the first person to arrive at the O’Hare airport to greet him.
He migrated to Chicago from Pakistan in early 1970's and started publishing a newspaper called "Unity Times" in Urdu and English. He dedicated his entire life for promoting and propagating Urdu through journalism, books, and lectures. He was fondly known as Baba-e-Urdu of Chicago. He regaled the community gatherings with his sharp memories of reporting the news during the past fifty years. He will be remembered for his dedication and services to the community. Chicago lost a great friend and a great leader. He received several awards for journalism.
He was known as Khan Sahib in the community. A soft spoken and a very humble person he always advised people to excel and progress at personal and community levels. He always attended all community functions, and one could always find him offering prayers in congregation at the Jamia masjid (mosque) at Devon Avenue. He always greeted people by saying Assalmu Alaikum with a radiant smile.
Khan Sahib was buried at Rosehill Cemetery. The services had to be limited to 10 people because of COVID-19 restrictions. He is survived by his wife, three children and five grandchildren.
May Allah SWT bless his soul and reward him for his service to humanity. Ameen.
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