Abdul Hafeez (Chemist)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Prof. Abdul Hafeez was a Pakistani weapon scientist
and radiochemist
. Hafeez was one of the early pioneer of Pakistan Ordnance Factories at Wah Cantt who made an extraordanary efforts to build and develop medium and high-tech weapons for Pakistan Armed Forces. Hafeez was also a Pan-Islamist and political analyst who had long criticized British imperialism and influence in Muslim world.
He was a distinguished political activist of Pakistan Movement
. He published numerous papers and supported Pakistan Movement
, criticizing both Anglo-Hindu alliance. After his open-protest, the Her Majesty's Government banned him from entering into India
.
He migrated to Pakistan in late 1950s. He played an important and crucial role in Pakistan's Armed Defence Industries and helped Pakistani scientists to established high-powered Chemistry
research institute
s in Pakistan
.
where he studied double majors, receiving B.Sc. with honors in Chemistry
and Mathematics
from there. He later completed his M.Sc. in Theoretical Chemistry
from there. In 1905, he went to Great Britain
on a University Scholarship
and attended University of Birmingham
. While at University of Birmingham, he studied and research in the field of Explosive material
s and Radiochemisrty.
However, he irritated the Birmingham University officials when he published his Ph.D. thesis in the name of Afghanistan
’s Habibullāh Kalakāni. The University refused to give him the Doctoral Degree. Soon after, Hafeez left Great Britain and moved to Germany
where he, then, attended University of Marburg where he was awarded his Ph.D in Radiochemistry
and Explosive Chemistry under the supervision of dr. Otto Hahn
in 1908. He also specialized in weapon technology and explosive materials from there.
. He joined Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation. During 1920s, the Khilafat Movement was on taking place; Hafeez, with Islamist Ideology and Islamic Ideas, supported the idea of movement. However, after the collapse of the movement, he immediately left Turkey and went back to Austria
.
as a chief weapon scientist and radiation weapon technologist where he worked closely with fellow soviet weapon scientists in 1924. After having a long and distinguished career at Steyr Mannlicher, Hafeez successfully manufactured and developed high power machine guns and provided technical assistance to Austrian Army. A a t Hafeez continued working at Steyr Mannlicher till 1957 until he was personally asked by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Khwaja Nazimuddin.
on 1957. He was put incharge of POF where he was responsible to produced man-power and technical labs for ammunition and explosive materials. As weapon scientist, he inducted the explosives and chemical-biological laboratory under Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers
. Hafeez successfully founded the radiological science research institutes at POF where inm future, the laboratory provides critical training in the manufacture and testing of chemical explosives and allied products. Received initial training in Ordnance Training Laboratory
at the Punjab University's Chemistry department.
However, after Ayub Khan's Government signed a weapon-cooperation deal with Royal Ordnance Factory
, Hafeez resigned from his position in 1960s. After his retirement from POF, he joined Punjab University
's Chemistry department as a full time professor. At the university
, he also taught Turkish
Language as well.
where he re-joined Steyr Mannlicher. During the time, his Austrian-Pakistani wife was suffering from Acute myeloid leukemia
. His wife, Aynmar Rishta Mehrun Nisa, died in 1964. The same year, he suffered a cardial arrest and was immediately taken to hospital where it was announced that he died. Hafeez and his wife's body was taken to Pakistan where they are buried in Karachi Cemetery.
Due to his contribution to Pakistan's Armed Forces but he was refused to give credit of his achievements. That is why, his comrades and collaborators at POF, have called his as "Pakistan’s unsung, uncared for and unused scientist".
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
and radiochemist
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry is the chemistry of radioactive materials, where radioactive isotopes of elements are used to study the properties and chemical reactions of non-radioactive isotopes...
. Hafeez was one of the early pioneer of Pakistan Ordnance Factories at Wah Cantt who made an extraordanary efforts to build and develop medium and high-tech weapons for Pakistan Armed Forces. Hafeez was also a Pan-Islamist and political analyst who had long criticized British imperialism and influence in Muslim world.
He was a distinguished political activist of Pakistan Movement
Pakistan Movement
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
. He published numerous papers and supported Pakistan Movement
Pakistan Movement
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
, criticizing both Anglo-Hindu alliance. After his open-protest, the Her Majesty's Government banned him from entering into India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
He migrated to Pakistan in late 1950s. He played an important and crucial role in Pakistan's Armed Defence Industries and helped Pakistani scientists to established high-powered Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
research institute
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
s in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
Education and Life
Abdul Hafeez received his intermediate education from Aligarh, British India, attending Aligarh Muslim UniversityAligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
where he studied double majors, receiving B.Sc. with honors in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
from there. He later completed his M.Sc. in Theoretical Chemistry
Theoretical chemistry
Theoretical chemistry seeks to provide theories that explain chemical observations. Often, it uses mathematical and computational methods that, at times, require advanced knowledge. Quantum chemistry, the application of quantum mechanics to the understanding of valency, is a major component of...
from there. In 1905, he went to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
on a University Scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and attended University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. While at University of Birmingham, he studied and research in the field of Explosive material
Explosive material
An explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
s and Radiochemisrty.
However, he irritated the Birmingham University officials when he published his Ph.D. thesis in the name of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
’s Habibullāh Kalakāni. The University refused to give him the Doctoral Degree. Soon after, Hafeez left Great Britain and moved to Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
where he, then, attended University of Marburg where he was awarded his Ph.D in Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry is the chemistry of radioactive materials, where radioactive isotopes of elements are used to study the properties and chemical reactions of non-radioactive isotopes...
and Explosive Chemistry under the supervision of dr. Otto Hahn
Otto Hahn
Otto Hahn FRS was a German chemist and Nobel laureate, a pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry. He is regarded as "the father of nuclear chemistry". Hahn was a courageous opposer of Jewish persecution by the Nazis and after World War II he became a passionate campaigner...
in 1908. He also specialized in weapon technology and explosive materials from there.
Involvement in Turkey's Defence Industries
After his doctoral studies, Hafeez was asked by United States Government to joined and served in American Weapon Production industries. However, Hafeez turned American offers down and moved to Constantinopole, TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He joined Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation. During 1920s, the Khilafat Movement was on taking place; Hafeez, with Islamist Ideology and Islamic Ideas, supported the idea of movement. However, after the collapse of the movement, he immediately left Turkey and went back to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
Career At Steyr Mannlicher
Hafeez joined Steyr MannlicherSteyr Mannlicher
Steyr Mannlicher is a firearms manufacturer based in the city of Steyr, Austria. Originally a part of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch manufacturing conglomerate, it became independent when the conglomerate was broken in 1990.-History:...
as a chief weapon scientist and radiation weapon technologist where he worked closely with fellow soviet weapon scientists in 1924. After having a long and distinguished career at Steyr Mannlicher, Hafeez successfully manufactured and developed high power machine guns and provided technical assistance to Austrian Army. A a t Hafeez continued working at Steyr Mannlicher till 1957 until he was personally asked by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Khwaja Nazimuddin.
Career at POF
Hafeez joined Pakistan Ordnance Factories at Wah CanttWah Cantt
Wah Cantonment is a military city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, to the north west of Rawalpindi/Islamabad.-History:...
on 1957. He was put incharge of POF where he was responsible to produced man-power and technical labs for ammunition and explosive materials. As weapon scientist, he inducted the explosives and chemical-biological laboratory under Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
. Hafeez successfully founded the radiological science research institutes at POF where inm future, the laboratory provides critical training in the manufacture and testing of chemical explosives and allied products. Received initial training in Ordnance Training Laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
at the Punjab University's Chemistry department.
However, after Ayub Khan's Government signed a weapon-cooperation deal with Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
, Hafeez resigned from his position in 1960s. After his retirement from POF, he joined Punjab University
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
's Chemistry department as a full time professor. At the university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, he also taught Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
Language as well.
Death
In 1960, Hafeez moved to AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
where he re-joined Steyr Mannlicher. During the time, his Austrian-Pakistani wife was suffering from Acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia , also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. AML is the most common acute...
. His wife, Aynmar Rishta Mehrun Nisa, died in 1964. The same year, he suffered a cardial arrest and was immediately taken to hospital where it was announced that he died. Hafeez and his wife's body was taken to Pakistan where they are buried in Karachi Cemetery.
Due to his contribution to Pakistan's Armed Forces but he was refused to give credit of his achievements. That is why, his comrades and collaborators at POF, have called his as "Pakistan’s unsung, uncared for and unused scientist".