Khuddam USA Souvenir 1989 — Page 37
with the approval or Hazral Khahfatul Mas1h IV Nasir Mahmud Malik of the Detroit, Ml, Jama at assumed responsibility immediately. Nasir Malik's first job was to set up a new National Cab- inet. Some of the key ollicers came from his local Detroit area. They prepared programs for the coming year and planned to launch them by the National Jalsa in 1983 By this time 19 branches of Khuddam had been established To update records, new Taineed. finance, and budget forms were established Preparation was begun lo re- establish the Tariq newsletter. Then, on August 8, 1983 , the whole Khuddam and Jama'at was rocked with the news or its first martyr, Dr Muzatfer Ahmad of Detroit, the Molam1d of the National Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya He was shot by an assail- ant outside his home and the Detr01t M1ss1on was set on fire. Despite the blow, the Khuddam officers continued to function. In December of 1983, the Midwest and Great Lakes Region held a joint regional ljtema m the Dayton Mosque. Despite blizzard conditions outside, it was ex- tremely successful, and the National Committee met again and planned to organize a full scale National IJtema , -:~tfal prcpanngfor games at the 1979 i1wma (Photo by A Sami '' 'Khaliq). \ in the summer. The end of 1984 and early 1985 were lilied with dis- turbing reports of Ahmadi persecution in Pakistan. But two events marked the start of a new growing force of activity. First, a national ijtema was planned for Labor Day weekend of 1985 and second, the Tariq magazine was restarted although only as a part of the Ahmadwa Gazette. The National ljtema, as in the earlier days, was a key event to stirring up interest. revitalizing Khuddam. and emphasizing unity. A full outline of eleven competitions was laid out ahead of time including azan (call to prayer), salaat (prayer), and two types of speeches. The results of the national 11tema were reported in the second "new issue of Tariq. It was a National IJtema with all the trappings Tenting out in Camp Dearborn (Detroit, Ml), excellent participa- tion (125), three full days of activity. and even a campfire. Participants came from fifteen different branches From Jumuah on Friday to Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Khud- dam and Atfal both participated in prayers. sports, and competitions. There was a speech by MuzafTer Zafr, Oars Khuddam-ul-AhmadlJ'Ya U. SA. - 37