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Hafiz Ilyas Ahmad Siddiqi (1939 to 2005)
Ilyas Ahmad Siddiqi was born on June 3, 1939 in Rampur (India) to religious parents Ashfaq Ahmad and Haseena Khatoon. He was the youngest of 5 siblings (4 brothers and a sister) and spent his childhood in Rampur, UP. At a very early age he has memorized the Quran and earned the title of Hafiz and later was commonly known and renouned as Hafiz Jee. His demeanor and charming looks made him popular among family and friends. During his college years he also took an active part in sports and extracurricular activities. He was the captain of volleyball and hockey teams for his college in Rampur and played various intra district tournaments. His college life was full of joy and social activities besides studies. He has completed his B.A. from Rampur College.

Mr. Siddiqi took active part in Pakistan movement and was very young when India was divided and Pakistan came into being in 1947. His parents decided to stay in India after patrician but his elder sister got married to a historian Dr. Riaz-ul-Islam in the same year and moved to Pakistan and then settled in Karachi.

Mr. Siddiqi also moved to Pakistan in around 1961 to pursue further studies and got admission in Punjab University Lahore. He completed his Masters in Urdu and later another Masters degree in Sociology. In 1966 he joined Election Commission of Pakistan and got his first posting in Lahore. He got married in 1967 to a very pretty woman Anjum who was also well educated with M.A. English and B.Ed. degrees and belonged to a noble family from Nagina (Bijnor) India.

Hafiz Ilyas and Anjum spent a joyful life together and had 5 children. The family moved to various cities in Pakistan due to the postings of Mr. Siddiqi and enjoyed ethnic cultures of different provinces. Mr. Siddiqi presided various committees during his tenure as the federal government employee. He served his department with full devotion and gave his best years to the country. He took early retirement in 1997 as Election Commissioner in Quetta.

Mr. and Mrs. Siddiqi moved to Mississauga Canada in 2000 to join their eldest son Faisal. Mr. Siddiqi died in Mississauga on January 23, 2005 due to cardiac arrest. In memory of his father and to spread education around the world, Faisal Siddiqi has established an scholarship program named after his father. Hafiz Ilyas Scholarship Program financially assist students with good academic record who are unable to continue their education due to lack of funds.