Deceased Members

Following deceased office bearers of the Pakistan Pilgrim Society will be remembered for their remarkable contribution in establishment of the society and services for the Zaireen. These gentlemen laid the stepping stone decades back for the present committee to emulate their good deeds. May Allah bless their souls. (Please recite Sure Fateha )

• Ali Raza T. Lakhani Marhoom
• Abdullah Rehmatullah Marhoom
• Ghulam Ali Bhai Marhoom
• Zia Ali Naqvi Shaheed
• Mukthar Ahmed Azmi Shaheed
• Baqar Azmi Shaheed
• Shaban Ali Lokhandwala Shaheed

Memorial

Ali Raza T Lakhani

(1934 – 2011)

Late Ali Raza T. Lakhani was born in Karachi in 1934. When he was seven years old, his father became terminally ill, and the family moved back to their ancestral village of Bhuj (Kutch), in the State of Gujrat. After the demise of his father, the family moved back to Karachi to seek better financial opportunities. Ali Raza Lakhani completed his elementary studies and passed his matriculation examination from the Sindh Madressa-tul-Islam, and later graduated in the Faculty of Commerce from Sindh Muslim Arts and Commerce College. He acquired his professional accountant’s designation in 1961 and started his own public accounting practice in 1965.

Mr. Lakhani was instrumental in forming the Khoja Ithna Asheri Students Organization (KISO) in 1951, where he worked as its president until 1959. Furthermore, he was actively involved in the management of Mehfil-e-Murtaza, where he served as the Honorary Secretary for twelve years, Vice President for two years and an additional four years as a member of the Management Committee. At the same time, he initiated the publication of the “Mehfil News”, a socio-religious monthly magazine of the Mehfil, and remained its editor for over five years.

Ali Raza Lakhani provided his services to the Khoja (Pirhai) Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat, as a member of the Managing Committee, for three separate terms. Here he also edited the Jamaat’s quarterly magazine “The Community” and acted as chairperson of several sub-committees.

He edited and published the “Amaal and Ziarat” guide, which to date is used by many pilgrims and has become the source of inspiration for many others to create such resources.

Ali Raza Lakhani was passionate about giving back to the community. He assisted people going through difficult times in various ways. He always supported others by providing his services, and even financial support, to people and community.

Mr. Lakhani founded the Senior Citizens Forum in Karachi and initiated several projects for the welfare of the seniors such as the Tiffin Project and Seniors Day Care, besides organizing many educational and recreational activities for the seniors. Noticing his dedication to serve seniors, the World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Muslim Communities appointed him as its Regional Representative for Pakistan for the Seniors Advisory Board.

Pakistan Pilgrims Society was founded in the year 1981 by Marhum Ali Raza Lakhani to solve the difficulties faced by the pilgrims in getting visas and making travel arrangements to perform pilgrimage to holy places. Although the society was set-up to help pilgrims make their travel arrangements, it soon started organizing “group pilgrimage” to holy places in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Syria, on an “actual cost” basis. Despite his busy professional accounting practice, he made time to lead many groups himself. Under his leadership, Pakistan Pilgrims Society organized hundreds of group pilgrimage, helping thousands of pilgrims visit the holy places.

The management of Pakistan Pilgrims Society continues to use the learnings from Marhum Ali Raza T. Lakhani, to serve the community by organizing pilgrimage group on a “not for profit” basis. The legacy left by Mr. Lakhani has inspired and mobilized many other organizations to help people of our community in performing their religious journeys.

Marhum Mukhtar Azmi and Marhum Baqir Azmi

President of Pakistan Pilgrims Society Mukthar Ahmed Azmi (1934-2012) and his son Baqar Azmi (1970-2012) were martyred in Karachi on 5th September 2012 by terrorists in a targeted operation while they were returning home. They were burried in Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard on 6th September 2012.

May Allah SWT rest their souls in eternal peace.

Personal Life

Shaheed Mukthar Azmi hailed from the respected town of Azamgarh in Uttar Pardesh, India. A town known for its distinct culture, religious values and education. He migrated to Pakistan in 1947.

Shaheed Azmi was the eldest amongst his siblings. Sudden demise of his father put him in a responsible role to support his family. Responsibility for the family at a modest age, a new country, and the circumstances mentored him and with the help of personal qualities Almighty had rewarded him with, he embarked upon a journey of success both in the professional and community services spheres, which after decades serves as a source of encouragement for many close to him.

Professional Life

Shaheed Azmi started his career in advertising in 1950 by joining the then leading ad agency D.J. Keymer. In 1968 he joined world’s leading ad agency JWT and was assigned clients in Karachi, Kabul and Dhaka. In 1972, he joined Fourays Adverting in Karachi as one of its founding directors. Then in 1974, he started his own advertising agency M.A.Z Advertising and remained its CEO till the time of his martydom in 2012.

During his professional career he was actively involved in professional forums and had keen interest in education and development of advertising profession in Pakistan. He was unanimously elected for many terms as Secretary Finance, Secretart General, Vice Chairman, Chairman of Pakistan Advertising Association. In 1995, he was elected as Chairman Finance Committee for Asian Advertising Congress. His services to the industry were recognized by several awards:

• 1979 Advertising Pioneer Award by Pakistan Advertising Association
• 1985 Distinguished Individual Contribution Award, Pakistan Advertising Association
• 1995 Advertising Excellence Award, Pakistan Advertising Association
• 2003 Advertising Excellence Award, Pakistan Advertising Association
• 2004 Advertising Golden Award, Pakistan Advertising Association

Volunteering and Community Service

Shaheed Azmi had a leadership and active role in the sphere of community services. He served hujjaj and zaireen from the plaform of Pakistan Pilgrims Society in various roles for many years till his death. He played a key role in founding Jafaria Hajj & Ziarat Foundation - a representative platform for protecting the rights and interests of the community. He was also the Chairman of Islamic Research Center (IRC), Karachi at the time of his shahadat.

Shaheed Azmi was very fond of reading and had a personal collection of rare religious books. He wrote and compiled few publications with the aim of facilitating hujjaj and zaireen that still serve hundreds of people every year. Amongst such accomplishments are:

• Marifat: Brief intro of maqamat e ziarat in KSA, Iran, Iraq and Sham
• Kitab-ul-Aamal: A comprehensive and handy collection of Aamal & Ziarat for every signifinat day in every Islamic month
• Kitab-u-Ziarat: A comprehensive and handy collection of Ziarats to be recited by pilgrims while on a pilgrimage to KSA, Iran, Iraq and Sham