Pakistani-American Mohammad Aslam passes away; leaving behind a legacy of community service

Image Credit: Courtesy Naila Alam

Pakistani-American community in Washington area lost a veteran voice and mentor on Wednesday, when Mohammad Aslam, owner of Metro International Travel and founder of the 1990s newspaper Eastern Times, passed away.

Around 80-year-old Aslam was a widely respected figure in the travel business and social circles among South Asian and Middle Eastern communities. A funeral prayer for him will be held on Friday.

Known commonly as Chaudhry Aslam, he came to the United States on the first day of September 1965, just a week before the outbreak of Pakistan-India war. He hailed from Gujrat, Punjab, and was working as a teacher in Sindh before moving to the United States,

His Shalimar Entertainment company hosted several cultural shows of South Asian artists like legendary singer Noor Jehan.

In the early 1990s, Aslam’s newspaper Eastern Times made its mark with a series of commentaries on the first Gulf War. Editor Mowahid Shah offered American readers a regional perspective – different from the mainstream media – which warned of repercussions for the entire Middle East and the United States stemming from instability in a region where the Palestinian question was already simmering.

The newspaper had several American subscribers and was also quoted for its balanced and alternative perspectives.

“It was something really fresh for Americans to know about the Middle Eastern perspective before the Internet age,” Mowahid said.

Deeply conscious of the importance of media narratives and their implications, Aslam would often recall the work his paper had done, and always encouraged good quality journalism. He would often underline the need for Pakistani-American to have good quality media forums so that the people could tell their stories.

Aslam was also a pioneer in introducing Hajj package for Muslims living in the area, and his Springfield Virginia-based Metro International Travel – established in 1975 – facilitated pilgrimage to Makkah and Medina for many people. If he found anyone in distress for a visit to Pakistan, he would issue air travel tickets to them on mere verbal commitment to postdated payment.

Over several decades, Aslam also helped the needy people from Pakistan and India and also gave jobs and immigration opportunity to a lot of people. It was only in the last few years of his life when blood cancer forced him to cut down on his participation in public events. But he would always encourage, mentor and support good work people did.

“He was a rare person, kind-hearted and compassionate, and a man of integrity,” said Mowahid, calling his death a deep painful loss of a friend.

Views and News co-owner Muhammad Nasimuddin has also expressed his heartfelt condolences over the demise of Aslam, who had great praise for Views and News as an English language media highlighting achievements and challenges of immigrant communities in these important times.

Several Pakistani-Americans expressed condolences to the family at the passing away of Aslam. In their social media posts, people also paid tributes to the countless welfare services rendered by Aslam. His multifaceted contributions earned a great respect for the community, something Pakistani-Americans can hold up as a model.