Community leaders pay tribute to Javed Habib

More than one thousand people turned up at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) mosque to pay their obeisance to Javed Habib, one of the founders of All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) and an Alig, on Friday at about 1:30 PM.

After offering the prayer of Habib, who died of heart attack on Thursday afternoon at his Zakir Nagar house, residents, including community leaders travelled to JMI graveyard where he was laid to rest today.

Habib is survived with his wife, Zubaida Habi, an associate professor Education Department, JMI, and three sons.

Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Mohammed Adeeb told OKHLA TIMES that throughout his life he struggled to empower the community. “He always maintained good relation with his friends and that is why you can see such a huge turnout today. Since his school days at AMU, Habib fought for his community,” said Adeeb, who also is product of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

India Islamic Cultural Centre chief Sirajuddin Qureshi, who rushed to the graveyard to pay tribute to 64-year-old Habib said we will miss him.

“He was a man of values and it was only a few days ago when he had called me to inform about a letter that he had written to the prime minister. I was expected to meet him this week but was shocked to know about his death. He always faced difficulties in his life but never complained. He was an amazing man.”

Delhi Minority Commission chairman Safdar H Khan said: “He was a true Alig and always stood with his friends. And he was a great Muslim leader. I always read his riveting articles in Urdu weekly magazine Hujoom that he used to edit.”

Khan said Habib was junior to him at AMU and his death is a great loss to the community and Urdu journalism.

The Welfare Party of India (WPI) general secretary Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas said: “The community will certainly miss him in the coming days.”

Local leaders, including MLA Asif Md Khan, and others were also present in the mosque.

Born in Rajasthan’s Tonk, Habib was formerly president of AMU students’ union (1977-78).

CAPTION: Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Mohammed Adeeb and other community leaders, including residents and relatives, at JMI graveyard where Habib was laid to rest on Friday (OT Photo)