In the memory of those who are not with us

Deeplish Community Centre event to remember their fallen heroes

An event to pay tribute to people no longer with us but who undertook initiatives to improve local facilities and worked hard to keep the community together took place at Deeplish Community Centre.

Special tributes were paid to Yasin Khan, Iftikhar Kiani, Abdul Hameed Salik, Mohammed Latif, Bashir Ansari, Kizer Hussain Shah, Sharif Baleem, Master Karimdad and Abdul Choudhry.

Mohammed Sheraz said: “Yasin Khan was my colleague and a good friend.

“He put his heart and mind into youth and community work and inspired many young people.

“He will sadly be missed by many of us, especially by young people, who turned out in hundreds to attend his funeral. He has definitely left a legacy behind.”

Sohail Ahmed, from Deeplish Community Centre, said: “These people worked very closely with local residents and community groups and left a legacy behind, we shall remember them forever for developing community facilities and other achievements.

Councillor Daalat Ali said: “I had opportunity to work with most of them, they inspired our community in difficult times and offered voluntary advise, help and support to local people.

“They left very good examples of partnerships and networking.”

Yasin Chohan, a close friend of late Iftikhar Kiani, from Chicago, said he was a good friend, a caring person and inspiring personality.

Razia Shamim, from Pakeeza, group said: “There was a good team of dedicated people, who supported each other, engaged and involved local community to achieve positive results. This is what we need today, inspiring leaders to keep us together, providing a clear vision.”

Mohammed Athar said: “I worked very closely with Hameed Salik on various projects and recently found some working papers written in his hand writing on ‘how to keep community together’.

“These people made real efforts to develop our community. May Allah bless their souls. We shall never forget them and their achievements.”

Maqsood Ahmed said: “I worked with some of these heroes and echo what has been said by other speakers, I pay tribute to all of them. They provided a learning edge for many of us.

Councillor Mohammed Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed said: “We should not forget those champions who took good community initiatives and left a legacy behind. We should educate our young people about the efforts these people put in to benefiting our community and local residents, whether it was about mother tongue, cultural activities, Halal meals provision or other initiatives that made a real difference and improvements.”

The event was concluded by Hafiz Mohammed Ikram with special prayers offered in favour of all those who are not with us, but remain in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.

Councillor Shakil Ahmed said: “Some of those heroes are greatly missed by their communities.”