Died June 1976 | ||
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Born 1913 Pishin, Balochistan, Pakistan Known for one of the Leaders of the Pakistan Movement
Lifelong member of Muslim League | ||
Qazi Muhammad Essa (1913 – 19 June 1976) was a Pakistani politician and one of the prominent leaders of the Pakistan Movement.
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Early life and career
He participated in the formation of the first Muslim political party in Pakistan, (Muslim league) Balochistan before 1947. He was from a Pashtun family, from district Pishin, Balochistan, Pakistan. He had studied at Sandeman High School and Government High School in Quetta, and then went on to England for higher education. "After having been called to Bar in January 1939, he returned home and met Quaide-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Bombay. He was so impressed with his ideas and personality that on his return to Baluchistan, he founded the All-India Muslim League in his province." He played a key role in the Pakistan Movement and was one of the trusted lieutenants of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He was the youngest member of the Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League and as President of the Baluchistan Provincial Muslim League, he quickly organized the party throughout the province and played a key role in the 'Vote for Pakistan movement' and in the historical referendum of the then North-West Frontier Province. Qazi Essa travelled more than 300,000 miles to campaign for the Pakistan Movement between 1940 and 1947.
He represented Balochistan in the 1940 Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Lahore قرارداد لاھور), commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution (قرارداد پاکستان Qarardad-e-Pakistan). His nephew, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, has been a Pakistani High Commissioner in India, Pakistan's Permanent representative in UNO and UN Secretary General Special Representative in Iraq. Qazi Essa's son Qazi Faez Isa became Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court on 5, August 2009. He later took oath as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 5 September 2014.
Commemorative postage stamp issued in 1990
Death and legacy
Qazi Muhammad Essa died on 19 June 1976. "Qazi Isa devotedly served the Muslim League for 37 years." Among his survivors are some notable Pakistani personalities. One of them is his son Justice Qazi Faez Isa who is a judge at the Supreme Court of Pakistan and a nephew Ashraf Jehangir Qazi who has held many prominent diplomatic positions in the service of Pakistan. Qazi Muhammad Essa himself also had served as Pakistan's Ambassador to Brazil from 1951 to 1953.