Former premier Malik Meraj Khalid dies: LAHORE, June 13: Malik Meraj Khalid died today after a protracted illness, his family announced. His family said Khalid was suffering from heart problems and died in hospital today afternoon. Khalid, a seasoned parliamentarian and former speaker of the national assembly (lower house of the parliament) had served as caretaker prime minister for three months after the dismissal of the government of then prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 1996. (AFP) (Posted @ 23:55 PST)
Malik Meraj Khalid was a man of easy words and calm temperament. He was also a genuinely modest man. When he became caretaker Prime Minister in 1996, he refused to ride in a Mercedes and asked the escorts to go home. He also never moved into the Prime Minister House. This was not only because his tenure was only three months but also because he felt uncomfortable with the glitz and glamour of high office.
While visiting Karachi as prime minister he was lodged in the Governor House and I was staying nearby. He called me over one evening and it was obvious that something was wrong. I asked him what was it and he said that he had not slept for two days. I said why and he took me to his bedroom. It was large and ornate in a kitschy sort of a way and had a huge bed. He told me that I am so small and this bed is so large; I just cannot sleep. There was not much that I could say and there was no way the heavy bed could be removed, so he suffered it for one more night and left next morning.
He also returned the Boeing reserved for Prime Ministers to PIA and started to travel economy in a scheduled flight. It was during his tenure that VIP lounges were done away with and he himself always traveled through the normal economy class lounge. The interesting thing is that this was not a politician playing to the galleries but a genuinely simple man who never understood the fascination with luxury.
His simplicity and modest appearance sometimes made people take him lightly. He was no light weight. He had a deep understanding of history, great command over language and a core set of principles that were never abandoned. I had the pleasure of listening to his speeches many times and was awe struck by the beauty of his words and the learning that informed his thoughts.
He also had deep love for this country and its people. He was not only active in politics but had started an educational movement in the rural areas around Lahore which has benefited a large number of the rural poor. Education was a passion for him and he believed that the only way the poor can make a place for themselves in a cruel society is through education.
He was a model of honesty in an era when even District level politicians rolled in the loot. He had held almost every powerful political office in the land – Minister, Chief Minister of Punjab, Speaker National Assembly, and Prime Minister – yet he has died with hardly anything to his name. He continued to live in small flat off Hall Road, whatever political office he held. And what is more important he never carried his honesty as a badge of honor. It was just something that he did.
Malik Meraj Khalid lived a life of honor and dignity and of service to the country. He will be missed by everyone. May God bless his soul.