KARACHI, Oct 08 : Members of the Hamdard Shura Karachi chapter and young speakers of the Hamdard Naunehal Assembly Karachi paid glowing tribute to the renowned physician and visionary social reformer, Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said, at a memorial event held in a local hotel on the occasion of his martyrdom anniversary, 17 October 1998. The special programme, chaired by Ms. Sadia Rashid, President of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, was themed “Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said and Service to Humanity.”
Addressing the gathering, Gen (r) Moinuddin Haider, Speaker of Hamdard Shura, said that if today’s youth need a true role model, it is undoubtedly Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said. He said “Shaheed Hakim Said was a man of conscience, high moral values, and a great social reformer who established Hamdard Pakistan on the principles of ethics, education, health, and patriotism — a national institution that has grown into a strong and flourishing organisation. Hakim Said believed that children were the builders of the nation’s future; therefore, he focused his life’s work on their intellectual and moral development.”
A group photograph taken with Ms. Sadia Rashid, President of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, along with the participants of the commemorative event held in memory of the eminent physician, visionary leader, and reformer of the nation — Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said.
He also said “Institutions such as Madinat al-Hikmah, Hamdard Naunehal Assembly, Hamdard Public School, and Hamdard Village School are living examples of his visionary thinking, continuing to enlighten society with the light of knowledge and wisdom. Hakim Said was a symbol of simplicity, humility, and service to humanity. The tragic day of 17 October 1998 marks a painful chapter in our history when the nation lost a great benefactor. A true loss to our nation. Today, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan continues to uphold his mission by actively serving humanity in every field of public welfare.”
Col (r) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt, Deputy Speaker of Hamdard Shura Karachi, remarked that October has been a sorrowful month in Pakistan’s history — it was in this month that Quaid-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan was martyred on 16 October 1951, and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan also passed away in the same month. He said that after the creation of Pakistan, Hakim Mohammed Said made a principled decision to migrate and began his journey from a small clinic in Karachi, which later evolved into the golden institution, Hamdard Pakistan, that continues to thrive even today.
He also said “The word Hamdard reflects his deep love for his homeland and his empathy for its people. Even on the day of his martyrdom, Hakim Said was on his way to treat hundreds of waiting patients when he was assassinated — at the very place where his mission of service began.”
Professor Dr Hakim Abdul Hannan stated that the need for affordable alternative medicine is greater today than ever before. Thanks to Hakim Mohammed Said’s efforts, the centuries-old Tibb-e-Unani gained recognition at the international level. It is because of his vision that Pakistan today stands among the few countries where the herbal pharmaceutical industry operates as an organised sector. Modernising Unani medicine and training physicians intellectually were among his remarkable contributions.
Young speakers of the Hamdard Naunehal Assembly — Maryam Fatima (Speaker), Ayesha Fawad (Leader of the House), Syed Shuja (Leader of the Opposition), and others — paid heartfelt tribute to Hakim Said. They said that Islam regards service to humanity as a form of worship, and Hakim Mohammed Said’s name will shine forever because he lived by the teachings of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and dedicated his life to serving mankind. Though martyred, he remains alive in the hearts and minds of the nation. His martyrdom was not merely the loss of one man — it was an attack on Pakistan’s intellectual heritage. No society that turns against its benefactors can sustain itself, they added.
Faisal Nadeem, Chief Operating Officer of Hamdard Pakistan, Dr Rizwana Ansari, member of Hamdard Shura, and others also addressed the ceremony. Renowned poet Huma Baig and Kaleem Chughtai, editor of Hamdard Historicus, presented poetic tributes to Hakim Mohammed Said. Students of Hamdard Public School performed a stage sketch on the event’s theme, while the programme concluded with “Dua-e-Said,” recited by students of Hamdard Public and Hamdard Village Schools.
