Free Mason Hall
Freemasons Hall Karachi before the partition, also known as Hope Lodge. All the programs of the society were held in it. Where there was a lot of hustle and bustle in the evening, there were rows of white Victorian cars in front of the building. At that time they had 500 members. Some of these notable names were Jam Mir Ayub Alamani, a big name in Karachi politically, socially, literary and culturally.
The building was viewed with suspicion after the partition.
Well-known researcher Akhtar Baloch says that the reality before partition was somewhat different and it is also a fact that Muslims were included in these organizations before and after the formation of Pakistan.
The first such thing came to light in 1972. Freemasonry activities were restricted under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Later, on July 18, 1973, the Bhutto government took control of the "Freemasons Hall". He took possession of the entire record. On July 19, Dawn reported that the Sindh government, led by the area magistrate, had sealed off the local hall near the YMC and seized the record. Hall took over at the behest of a rebel group.
They have 1750 members all over Pakistan. Of these, 700 are members of the Karachi headquarters. According to reports, there are Freemasons Lodge Halls in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Tarbela, Quetta and Peshawar. After capturing the Freemasons Hall record, no one knows where it is now.
The Freemasons Hall in Lahore was founded in 1860. This hall is known as "Lahore Temple". The building is now in the hands of the Punjab government, where offices of various government departments have been set up. Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Sheikh was the last Past Master of Freemasons Lodge Hall Karachi. He was taken over by Dr. RB Kabhata in May 1973.
It may be recalled that when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto restricted the activities of Freemasons Hall in 1972, its activities continued in spite of the restriction. Earlier, in 1961, the Pakistani government and members of the Pakistani forces banned them from being a member of the Freemasons Rotary Club and the Lions Club. The same ban was imposed on other government employees in 1969. When Zia-ul-Haq banned the activities of the Freemasons on June 17, 1983, under the Martial Law, Regulation 56, their activities continued. Because the order did not specify legal or illegal activities. Therefore, according to the members, they were carrying out legal activities. With this in mind, the Government declared the Martial Law Regulation of 17 June 1983 by the Martial Law Administrator on 29 December 1985. Under the order, the Freemasons were banned. Under section (5), this decision cannot be challenged in any court. And the person who obstructs the order under section (7) shall be punished severely with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and with fine.
The Freemasons were banned in Iran after the 1979 revolution. Thus, in only two countries in the world, Pakistan and Iran, the Freemasons organization has the Hope Lodge in the early 1990s and the Wildlife Accounts and Head Office at the Sindh Wildlife Time Freemason Lodge Hall. The Sindh government building was made a national heritage, renovation and decoration under the 1994 Act. The building and hall are still in good condition, with commemorative plaques. One plaque commemorates the Freemason Roberts Shepherd of Karachi. Apart from these ten boards, only these boards are left for the students of Freemasons Hall.
References
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