Page 21 - Pakistan Link - July 2, 2021

COMMENTARY JULY 2, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21

n By Dr Asif Javed Jugga Gujjar: Profile of a Gangster allegedly raped Shabnam, the leading film ac-
Williamsport, PA tress of Lollywood. As for Acha Suqarwala, he
continued his illegal activities despite losing
n a quiet evening in 1968, a city of- ately called him Jugga when he was a toddler. the patronage of Nawab of Kalabagh who him-
ficial went to a fruit shop in Mozang, Although his real name was Sharif Gujjar, the self was assassinated by his son. But Suqarwala
OLahore. As the shopkeeper was tak- nickname stuck. Little did she realize that her was no Jugga. Habib-ur-Rehman recalls in his
ing his order, an open jeep arrived. The Jugga was to become part of Punjab folklore, memoirs that when in custody, and threatened
shopkeeper immediately stood up, ignored albeit for wrong reasons. Jugga wanted to visit with execution, Mr Suqarwala collapsed and
his customer and turned all attention to the her. The police laid a trap: During the 1965 urinated -- his life was spared; he died a natu-
man sitting in the front seat of the jeep. War, there used to be blackouts. Taking the ral death several years later. Ironically, after so
There were two menacing security guards civil defense higher-ups in confidence, the much carnage, the families of Jugga and Suqa-
in the back seat, each carrying a rifle. The city SSP arranged to have two consecutive nights rwala reconciled later. And all this had started
official looked at the men in the jeep with cu- of blackout in Lahore. It was widely publicized with a chance encounter at a fruit shop.
riosity. The shopkeeper followed the new cus- in advance. Jugga, desperate to see his mother Reference: Kiya Kiya Na Dekha by Haji
tomer’s order with remarkable speed. After and girlfriend, took the bait and decided to Habib-ur-Rehman.
the required items were placed in the jeep, the visit them during one of those blackout nights. (The writer is a physician in Williams-
shop keeper added some more on his own. No He expected to slip in and out of Lahore in the port, PA and may be reached at asifjaved@
payment was made and, it seemed, none was darkness of night. comcast.net)
expected. As the jeep sped away, the first cus- On the fateful night of July 3, 1968, he
tomer asked the visibly relieved shop keeper came, along with an armed accomplice. Un- VISA FROM P17
about the identity of the jeep occupant. “You aware of betrayal, and therefore least expect- “Thank you for organizing and it was nice
must be new in Lahore,” the shopkeeper said. ing the police, he was gunned down just yards catching up with you as well. And the power
“This is the king of Lahore, the real ruler of from the house where a mother awaited her outage was a nice special effect, we can thank
this city.” Sensing disbelief, the shop keeper son. What she found instead was her Jugga’s the heat wave for that too.”
continued, “This was Jugga Gujjar. He is the dead body riddled with bullets. And so it came Soulat Ghani: “I’m writing to you in rela-
one that matters for us, not the police, DC and to pass that Jugga Gujjar who had terrorized tion to this weekend’s Visa Camp at the Islam-
the rest who are in and out of the city all the citizens of Lahore was no more. He was twen- ic Society of Boston, Wayland. Unfortunately,
time.” The shopkeeper did not know that he ty-eight at the time. I realized a few moments ago that one had to
was talking to FK Bandial, DC of Lahore. What is Jugga’s legacy: For one, it is the pre-register for this event. I was hoping to be
A shaken DC went to the local police sta- menace of Jugga Tax that has since been per- able to bring my mom over today (Saturday)
tion, identified himself, and asked to see the fected by some, including an ethnic organiza- as she needs to have a document notarized.
SHO. The DC narrated the whole incident to tion in Karachi. There have been at least two Given her age and the ongoing COVID-19
him and asked for an explanation. The SHO movies made about him. Unfortunately, nei- pandemic this event would help in getting this
feigned ignorance about Jugga. The DC asked ther has kept true to the story. Jugga was not task completed safely and efficiently. Please let
the SHO to accompany him to the fruit shop. a hero although some consider him so. But he me know if it’s still possible to benefit from
Having seen the SHO, the shopkeeper became was a victim of circumstances, a product of his this event. Your help and attention to this re-
nervous, more so since the policeman was ac- time and the society that he lived in. As one er’s murderer. He therefore took the law in his quest is greatly appreciated.”
companied by his customer of earlier that eve- goes through this sad episode, one begins to own hands and killed one of Suqarwala’s men. Soulat Ghani’s response to Siraj’s post-
ning. When the SHO inquired about the man wonder what made this unfortunate young It is unfortunate that a man of Jugga’s potential visit enquiry: “Yes, Alhamdulillah we were
in the jeep, the shopkeeper started dithering; man go on a path of self-destruction. For one, became an outlaw instead of being an asset to able to have the document attested.
he was scared. The DC had by then realized the state and the society failed him. the state. Just imagine him as being in a law “Jazak Allahu Khairan and thank you
that he was getting nowhere. He narrated the We are told that years earlier, a local goon enforcement force, guarding the nation’s fron- again for your help in this matter and for help-
whole incident to Habib-ur-Rehman, SSP La- by the name of Acha Suqarwala had murdered tiers, or basking in glory as a sportsman. ing arrange this facility and in general your
hore, a friend and an old classmate from Govt. Another resident of Mozang had also service to the Pakistani community in the
College Lahore. come from a broken family and blue-collar Greater Boston area. This service in particular
The SSP was already aware of the men- background. Two years old at the time of Jug- is very convenient and helpful. Hopefully, we’ll
ace of a tax imposed by Jugga in several lo- ga’s death, he would later become arguably the get to meet again in the near future Insha Al-
calities in Lahore. It was rumored that Jugga’s best left arm fast bowler of his generation. One lah. Wa as Salaam.”
monthly income was thousands of rupees begins to wonder whether our paths in life are Saba Janjua from Manchester, NH.
from which he would distribute one-third to already chosen for us. While for one, it was ig- “Thank you for providing an excellent plat-
the poor. Naturally, he had become very popu- nominious death in the street, for the other, it form for the provision of the Pakistan consul-
lar in the neighborhood, a sort of modern-day was international recognition and adulation. ate services to the Pakistani community. I was
Robin Hood. As for our society, sadly, not much has able to get my work done successfully. I do
The SSP assigned the dangerous task changed since the 60s. If anything, it has got- feel that such services should be provided on
of arresting Jugga Gujjar to SHO Raja Iqbal. ten worse. Just recall the infamous Gulloo a regular basis rather than annually so that the
Raja Iqbal set about his assignment with vigor. Butt’s exploits a few years ago in Lahore. Mr Pakistani community can have timely access
With remarkable efficiency, and some luck Butt, who created havoc in plain eyesight of to such services to be able to get their work
perhaps, he managed to make a confidant of police, was not touched--he had the patronage done comfortably without wasting their time,
Jugga report on his whereabouts to the police. of a famous political family. Raheel Asghar, the money and energy.”
This was a major breakthrough for Jugga was PML-MNA from Lahore, had his father killed The team from the Consulate General
considered heavily armed and extremely dan- by a rival gang a generation ago. The lamen- New York included: Nawab Adil Khan (Dep-
gerous. tation of a woman from the bereaved family uty Consul General), Muhammad Ashraf
Jugga somehow got an inkling of the “Way zalmoon, asan tuada kee vigaria see” Rajput (Consular Attaché) and Mr Adnan
impending police action against him. In the (O, cruel folks, why have you done to us?) was Ahmed (Consular Assistant). Adil Khan and
preceding months, several outlaws had been widely reported. Decades later, Mr Asghar has Barry Hoffman were very appreciative of the
killed by police. SSP Habib-ur-Rehman had used filthy language in the National Assembly, Islamic Center Boston’s collaboration, and
developed a reputation of being tough on and then justified it by calling it ‘Punjabi cul- “were truly grateful to ICB for allowing the use
criminals. Jugga, being resourceful, obtained ture’. Baba Bhule Shah must be turning in his of their facility, which was so well located and
bail before arrest. And then in an act of defi- grave. well known in the community.”
ance and recklessness that was in keeping with Most characters associated with Jugga Ashraf Rajput remarked, “This is my sixth
his reputation, he appeared in the office of the Gujjar are long forgotten. Habib-ur-Rehm- time conducting the camp, and it was always
SSP and asked to see the chief. As he was ush- an, the SSP who spearheaded the campaign very much liked. It saves time, especially park-
ered in, Habib-ur-Rahman noticed an impres- against Jugga, had a distinguished career; he ing in NY which can be a nightmare, and it
sive physical specimen before him: His visitor later served as IG Punjab and Sindh as well really gets more difficult if you are with the
was a handsome, tall, muscular, fair colored as Director IB; he died in 2003. Readers may family. So instead of them coming to us we are
young man, dressed in a long Boski shirt and recall Gen. Mujib-ur-Rehman, Zia’s informa- coming to them. It’s an outreach.”
traditional Punjabi lacha. Addressing the SSP tion minister -- he was Habib-ur-Rehman’s PAGB President, Siraj Khan said, “We ap-
in a humble tone (Motian Walia) he asked for Jugga’s elder brother in a petty dispute during brother. Raja Iqbal, the SHO who killed Jugga, preciate the cooperation of ICB Wayland for
forgiveness and placed his gang at the disposal a festival. Acha Suqarwala was rumored to be deservedly received a medal and a promotion. allowing us to host this event at their prem-
of the SSP for any task assigned to them. Nawab of Kalabagh’s ‘enforcer’ and used to DC FK Bandial later served as Chief Secretary ises and the Consulates Barry D. Hoffman and
When the SSP’s answer did not satisfy Shahid Ahmed Khan for helping us arrange
him, Jugga made a staggering offer: He would Another resident of Mozang had also come from a broken the Consulate’s team’s visit from NY.” Siraj
fill the SSP office with currency notes. As an added, “This event was arranged for the con-
alternative, he would bring any actress of the family and blue-collar background. Two years old at the time venience of residents in the New England area,
SSP’s choice to his bedroom. When neither of Jugga’s death, he would later become arguably the best to facilitate access to Consular Services and we
offer was accepted, he left. Convinced that he have particularly factored in the busy travel
had finally met his match, Jugga disappeared left arm fast bowler of his generation. One begins to wonder season ahead, so that members of the commu-
from Lahore. The turncoat reported Jugga be- nity can take timely advantage of it.”
ing in Azad Kashmir from where he used to whether our paths in life are already chosen for us. While for The Camp provided various consular
cross the border in to occupied Kashmir pe- one, it was ignominious death in the street, for the other, it services: attestation, notarization, birth certifi-
riodically. From his hideout, Jugga wrote a cates, and birth registration, etc.
threatening letter to the SSP. The die was cast. was international recognition and adulation Siraj Khan and Fauzia Sayeed were pres-
An elaborate plan was set up to lure Jugga ent on both days, and were joined on Sunday
back to Lahore. His mother and girlfriend lived terrorize Nawab’s opponents. Jugga may have KPK as well as Punjab. His otherwise good by the rest of the PAGB Team. Fauzia Sayeed,
in Lahore. He was known to be very attached justifiably concluded that there was not much service record was later tarnished; his nephew who also took the opportunity to reach out to
to his mother. She was the one who affection- of a chance for the state to prosecute his broth- Farooq Bandial was part of the gang that had VISA, P23
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