New York USA Souvenir 1989 — Page 24
BROTHER ABID HANIF President New York Jamaat 1956-1959 Brother Abid Hanif, who is a very active member of the Com- munity embraced Islam and Ahmadiyyat on August 13, 1948 and since then he has never looked back. He stayed in New York from 1948 to 1961 and was the President of the Jamaat during 1956- 1959. Before that he served the Jamaat as Financial Secretary and as Vice President from 1950 to 1954. He also served as Qaid Khuddamul Ahmadiyya in late 50's. He worked under Mis- sionaries Ghulam Yasin, Nurul Huq Anwar and Abdul Qadir Zaigham. In 1961 he left for Boston, where he lives now and has been the Regional President of North East. The first and the only U. S. A. Convention to be held within the boundaries of New York was held on September 3 and 4, 1961. This was the 13th Annual Convention of the U. S. A. and was held at Jamaica Y. M. C. A. lo- cated on Parson's Boulevard. The Missionary at that time was Abdul Qadir Zaigham. Brother Abid Hanifs most impressive memories about New York pertain to the company of late Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, when he used to visit the United Nations. He also remembers the confrontation with Billy Graham. It may be recalled that during Billy Graham's visit to Kenya he was chal- lenged by Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad Sahib, who was Amir and Mis- sionary Incharge in East Africa at that time. Brother Abid Hanif, Brother Bashir Afzal and Brother M. Sadiq had put up banners and distributed pamphlets outside the Madison Square Garden, where Billy Graham was holding a meeting. Police attacked and arrested the three of them and they had to spend the night in lock- up. The y got suspended sentence and were later acquitted. 24