Noor-ud-din Qureshi


Mian Noor ud-din Qureshi was a leader within the Muslim community in North-West Frontier Province in the early 20th century, which was then part of British India. He was involved in the All India Muslim League. as well as the Khilafat Movement, which contributed to the greater Indian Independence Movement.

Early life

Qureshi's ancestors migrated from Mecca during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He was born in Abbottabad, British India but now part of Pakistan. He was born in Mohallah Munshian – a neighbourhood named after his father Munshi Mian Nizam ud din Qureshi.
After completing his education, Qureshi joined the Public Works Department. In 1914, in response to World War I, Muslim leaders issued a fatwa that working under British government was haram, so Qureshi resigned from his government job and started his own business. He started taking part in politics, joining the Freedom Movement.

Political career

He started his career as a president of the Khilafat Movement in Hazara, Pakistan, and was leading many welfare organizations there, and serving as an honorary magistrate. He was elected member of local municipal committee in 1920 and remained senior vice president of M.C Abbottabad consecutively from 1920 to 1943 till his death on 24 August 1943. In recognition of his services, the local government named the central bazaar and central neighborhood of the city after his name. In Abbottabad there were many Hindu organizations at that time, so Muslims formed many organizations under his leadership. He was an honorary magistrate also and people came to him for their problems. His residence, DARUL QURAISH was central headquarters for Muslims. In 1935 Hindus decided to replace Muslim Eidgah with Ram Mandir. Mian Noor uddin Qureshi along with Maulana Mohd Ishaq opposed Ram Mandir scheme. Under his leadership, a big procession was held, and finally Ram Mandir scheme came to an end.
In 1937, he founded All India Muslim League in Hazara District. He invited all leading members of All India Muslim League including Maulana Shaukat Ali, Maulana Abdul Hameed Badauni, Nawab Bahadur Yar Jung, Pir Maanki Sharif, Sardar Aurangzeb, for a meeting which was held at his home. Other leaders attending this meeting included Qazi Essa, Nawab Mohd Ismail, Bakht Jamal Khan, Agha syed Lal Badshah, etc.
After this meeting a successful Muslim Conference was held in Abbottabad and Jinnah wrote a letter of congratulations to Mian Noor uddin Qureshi and his son Mian Basir uddin Qureshi. This led to rapid succession of Muslim League in NWFP and it won the referendum in 1947 which was not possible without the great efforts of Mian Noor ud din Qureshi in Hazara. Mian Noor ud Din breathed his last in 1943 and buried in his native graveyard opposite DHQ hospital Abbottabad