I recently went to London airport to see a friend who was going off to Washington DC upon meeting at the airport my friend introduced a young man to me who simply said "Asalam o aleekum I am Hasan" by the same token I said "waalekum Salam I am Shahid" and than thought nothing of it and carried on as normal but this smartly dressed young man looked very familiar but I could not place him he looked more like an Egyptian or Lebanese than a Pakistani.

I still could not think why he looked very familiar, after few minutes of talking to him I realised he is the man I have been trying to get in touch with for months and months and was not able to get hold of him to get their side of the story.

This is the man who became the saviour of the Nawaz Sharif and the rest of the family when he conducted a successful international campaign single-handed for the release of his father and the rest of the family from prison in Pakistan.

Upon realising who he was I shook his hand and told him that I did not recognise him at the first instance and he graciously nodded saying he usually prefers it if people did not recognise him there followed a big laugh.

Hasan Sharif who became famous out of the blue when his father was ousted by General Musharaf on the 12th oct1999 is as reluctant to talk as General was to oust his father from Prime Minister's house in Islamabad through a barrel of a gun. But eventually I was able to persuade him to talk to me so we could get to know him better on a non political basis and to find out the trials and tribulations he went through not knowing how the military regime in Pakistan would react to his efforts to get his father out of prison. I had to make a solemn promise to make this talk totally and utterly non-political hence I was able to spend sometime with Hasan and got to see what he is really made of.

First time I saw Hasan on an English TV channel talk about his Father while he was campaigning for his father's release from prison I was impressed with the way he conducted himself and he was very careful not to say anything against Pakistan or its people this would have been a time where something could have been said but was not hence showed his strength and his resolve.

He looked committed to his cause and was every bit determine to accomplish his mission that short exposure was enough to convince me that he will achieve his target and few weeks later he was successfully able to get his father out of prison and rest of the family out into safe heavens of Saudi Arabia.

When I met General Musharf last year in Islamabad I could see that he was not a vengeful person neither was any of his team carrying any agendas of revenge I knew they will not do anything to harm Pakistan's reputation abroad and dragging Sharif family further would not have helped Pakistan's cause internationally. But looking at the situation from a son's point of view his father was in an imminent danger and he was doing everything he could to protect his father and his family and to every ones relief Sharif family was released unharmed after going through a lot of suffering and pain and loads of legal hassle.

I suppose in Pakistan these things are part of the political make up And it's a great shame because people of Pakistan are much more tolerant than its perceived in the western media and these political games do not represent a true image of the people The worst thing is that none of the Pakistani governments has ever made a coordinated effort to fight back the media war to project a truer image of Pakistan and its wonderful people.

On Oct 12th 1999 Hasan Sharif was thrown in at the deep end someone who has spent most of his life sheltered and shielded away from ills of the world all of a sudden was standing at a cross roads where people with life time of experience have failed in accomplishing their targets but this young man with no experience and only with restricted resources and connections was determine to succeed And succeeded he did with a bang.

One April afternoon in London when the weather was not sure of itself if it was winter or summer I met Hasan again I was determine to dig out the rotten, super rich, spoilt brat out of him so I started digging I threw questions at him from every angel to see how his response might falter with different angels but was I disappointed or was I disappointed.

He turned out to be a tough cookie to crack, And cracked he did not.

Shahid: Hasan how did you manage to achieve your desired goal of protecting your father and your family sitting in London.

Hasan: I do not think I was the one who did it but it was Allah's will I was only an instrument through which this almost impossible miracle was performed only by the grace of Allah all mighty. When this most incredible storm broke out I had no experience of the world or of politics I did not even have any contacts or connections at that stage. I was getting ready for my graduation ceremony in London after completion of my studies and had just returned from Pakistan after asking my parents and rest of the family to come to my graduation ceremony. I was very proud of my hard work and like any child of a family I wanted my parents to acknowledge and get to know my work and be there when my day had arrived.But on the day of my graduation ceremony I was alone there in the university and I had tears in my eyes, But there were parents of very many other Pakistani and Indians students present at the ceremony and every one came to me and supported me and congratulated me on completion of my studies and showered their love the same ways as they were doing it for their own sons and daughters.

Shahid: how did you start the campaign and who helped you to accomplish your mission impossible

Hasan: I just sat down and first thing I did was to pray to Allah all mighty for guidance before I started and planned my strategy in my mind than put it on a paper there were very many people who helped me along my lonely path there were a few people who should have helped but they did not but there were many more whom I did not know or even ever heard of them they
came along and offered their assistance but the strongest weapon I used was to pray to Allah I prayed in every namaz and did not miss Tehajid prayers while I was going through this trauma but I knew all along that Allah will look after my family I had complete "Tawakal" and kept on my struggle its amazing how many presidents, Prime Minsters,Kings,political Leaders ,religious leaders and common people stood by us its just too many to mention.

Shahid: what was the deal made between Saudis and the Army in Pakistan in order to get your Father out of prison?

Hasan: Shahid Bhai your promised not to ask political questions all I can say that my family is safe and nothing illegal or immoral was agreed between the parties and the end result is so beautiful, people spend their life savings trying to get to the Holy land and my family is there by the grace of Allah I think that really is the complete answer.

Shahid: How were you brought up as a child? Were you spoilt?

Hasan: I was brought up as a child of a joint family my parents always had time for us whenever we needed them they were there for us.We were always taught respect for others and consideration and a very strong emphasis was placed on manners I remember my father use to teach us that half the faith is cleanliness and the other half is to consider other peoples
feelings before your actions. My Dad use to send us to hospitals at least once a week with money in our hands to go there and donate money to poor people without telling them who you were and discretion was always the key I still remember going to Gulab Devi hospital on regular basis and leaving money under the pillows of various patients and that was just such a great feeling being able to do things for a fellow human beings

Shahid: So do you still continue the donating in other manners obviously
knowing you cannot go to Hospitals in Pakistan.

Hasan: Yes I am very proud to say that the tradition my Grand father and Father started still continues to this day in different manners I do not want to highlight this issue too much but we as a family sponsor many poor children around the world and by the grace of Allah we are able to donate to various organisations including many in Pakistan even today and I can promise you this tradition will continue.

Shahid: Having lived in London for a considerable time have your values and opinions or moral standards altered?

Hasan: I can say that with conviction that the way we were brought up we could live in Europe for hundred years but we will always remain Pakistanis and value our traditions and customs.
Islam is not just a religion it's a whole system of life, and the key of Islam is peace to humanity hence Islam brings you faith of peace and flexibility and I am very proud to be a Muslim and a Pakistani.

Shahid: this is not a political question but do you plan to take part in politics in the future or have you given up after the recent events?

Hasan: hahahahahaha I did not have a choice but to enter political arena this was the last thing I ever wanted to do but I was pushed into it by powers beyond my control and my imagination.
I suppose I am part of the political scenery not only in UK but also in Pakistan. As a family tradition we do not give up something we start with pure intentions but what ever Allah has meant for us will be, our struggle to highlight the plight of our people and search for the truth will continue inshaallah.

Shahid: when do you envisage that you and your family can go back to Pakistan?

Hasan: I can not answer that question easily all I can say that Pakistan is my mother and a child can not be separated from its mother for too long its an unnatural process. I love Pakistan I love my people, my love my wishes are with them Pakistan is in my heart, its in my prayers, its in my thoughts the time never remains the same what is important is to remember Allah when you are high so Allah looks after you when you are down.

It was an unusual meeting I was gunning for blood and was looking for a fight but I did not find aggression or abruptness or stuck up attitude but a gentle soul who was only trying to live a straight life in a society, which leaves a lot to be desired. Since meeting Hasan Sharif I have wondered many a times is he for real? And every time I heard my heart and my mind telling me I am biased against him by the virtue of being a leftist and in all fairness should give him a chance to prove him otherwise. I think he is made to the stuff he claims to be and may have a lot more
to offer to the people of Pakistan in future than the past generations. I say watch his every move there is more to him than meets the eye.