Rakhshanda Mehtab
EACH year on March 23rd, several foreign individuals from all sectors of life get numerous civil awards as a token of gratitude for their contributions to Pakistan. This year on Pakistan Day, the Government of Pakistan bestowed Dr. Hussain F. Kavazovic, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, with the “ Sitara e Quaid-e-Azam”, a prestigious civil honour, in appreciation of his invaluable services to Pakistan.
The Grand Mufti of Bosnia arrived in Islamabad on 22nd March. He visited Pakistan for the second time. Earlier, he visited Pakistan in Dec 2016. Dr. Hussain F. Kavazovic is highly qualified. He earned his doctorate in Sharia & Law from the Department of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo after attending Al-Azhar University in Egypt from 1985 to 1990. He had a hand in rebuilding Bosnian mosques and religious schools.
He actively takes part in charitable endeavors. His contribution to the founding of an organisation that certifies halal food items for Bosnia’s Islamic community was significant. He is the author of multiple books and essays on Comparative and Islamic Law. He held a number of fundraising events in 2022 in support of Pakistan after the floods and gave the flood victims more than 200,000 euros. He also donated more than 429,000 Euros to Pakistan Red Crescent Society. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan, gave the dignitary Pakistan’s civil award as a token of gratitude for his contributions to strengthening the country’s ties with other nations. The award was presented to him during a ceremony held at the Pakistani Presidency. On this occasion, Mr. Emin Cohodarevic, the ambassador, was also present.
During his engagements in Pakistan, in an effort to improve bilateral ties in a number of areas, such as Islamic education and academic exchanges between the two friendly nations, the esteemed Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Huseinef Kavazovic, Rais-ul-Ulema, met with several Academic and Governmental officials. He met with Chaudhry Salik Hussain, the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. The Federal Minister had earlier extended a hearty greeting to the Grand Mufti of Bosnia and his colleagues upon their arrival at the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain congratulated the Grand Mufti of Bosnia on receiving the Sitara e Quaid-e-Azam at a meeting. Thanking the Federal Minister, Mufti Azam stated that there is a close affinity between the people of Bosnia and Pakistan. According to him, “Pakistani leadership has a prominent position in the Muslim world and Pakistan played a prominent role in the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.”
—The writer is a freelance columnist and can be reached at rakhshandamehtab@gmail.com
