The Riots of 1953 — Page 99
99 found suffering from galloping T. B. All these considerations necessitated my early return. Ever since taking up my duties with His Highness the Nawab of Bhopal I had spent the greater part of my time in serving the cause and interests of Pakistan, first in connection with the Boundary Commission and then in connection with the United Nations Assembly. I had spent very little time at Bhopal. When the Arab delegates approached me, I explained the position to them both with regard to His Highness the Nawab of Bhopal and also with regard to the situation at Qadian and my own home. They suggested they would approach His Highness and the head of the Ahmadiyya Movement asking them to urge me to stay on. They enquired whether in case these two were willing to let me stay on I would be prepared to extend my stay. I said I would reconcile myself to the position. They then sent telegrams to His Highness and the head of the Ahmadiyya Movement, both of whom suggested that I should stay on till the end of the session, which I did. On my return, I found my brother at death’s door. All I was able to do was to press his hands in farewell. The point of the question, I understand, is that I did not refer the Arab Delegates to the Pakistan Government and mentioned only His Highness the Nawab of Bhopal and the head of the Ahmadiyya Movement. I was then, as I have said, resident in Bhopal. My official duty, such as it was, lay there. My domestic interests were all at Qadian. They had suffered serious damage and were in further jeopardy. The only responsibility I owed to the Pakistan Government at that time was to see that the functions of the delegation were properly discharged. They had been completely discharged by that time, except for a few formalities. My position on the delegation in my absence could be appropriately and