Forum Pakistan

Isa, Qazi Mohammad (1914-76)
Statesman. Qazi Mohammad Isa was the mainstay of AIML politics and the Pakistan Movement in the province of *Balochistan. He first became President of the Balochistan Muslim League and later a member of the * All-India Muslim League (AIML) Working Committee. In 1943, he was appointed member of the AIML Committee of Action. The hallmark of his achievements was the Muslim League Conference held at Quetta between 26 and 29 August 1940. Liaquat Ali *Khan, who presided, was ecstatic in describing the enthusiasm of the masses and attributed the phenomenal rise of AIML popularity to Qazi Mohammad Isa's 'untiring zeal and enthusiasm'.

In 1946, apprehending that he may be sidelined, he wrote to Liaquat Ali Khan that he would not countenance any office-holder in Balochistan appointed while bypassing him. In 1947, Qazi Isa did not favour the Shahi Jirga as the Electoral College to determine accession to Pakistan. He suggested giving this role to the Balochistan Muslim League or, failing that, holding a limited plebiscite based on adult franchise.

After independence, Qazi Mohammad Isa became General Secretary of the *Pakistan Muslim League. He was appointed Pakistan's Ambassador to Brazil (1951-53) and a member of the Pakistan delegation to the UN in 1950, 1954, and 1974.