Jinnah's 'penniless' great grandson finally gets his maiden flight

Rawalpindi, June 29 (ANI): Pakistan's Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's penniless great grandson travelled for the first time on an aeroplane on Sunday.

Aslam Jinnah, who is the son of Jinnah's niece, got a warm welcome on arrival at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

Bait-ul-Maal Managing Director (MD) Zumurrad Khan had invited Aslam Jinnah along with his family for the maiden visit to the federal capital.

Aslam, his wife Suraya Jinnah and 20-year-old handicapped daughter Zanib Jinnah were garlanded, and showered with rose petals as they came out of the VVIP lounge.

Aslam told reporters that he was thankful to God for giving him a chance to see the capital of the country his great grandfather had created in 1947.

With tearful eyes, he said it's his and the family's first-ever travel by an airplane and they had never thought of getting such a tremendous welcome at the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Airport.

Aslam said he didn't own a house and was leading a miserable life in a Karachi slum before the Bait-ul-Maal recently provided him and the family with basic facilities of life.

The Daily Times quoted Aslam as saying that his family makes plastic bags to earn a living. He said President Asif Zardari had promised to ensure free treatment of his disabled daughter Zainab, 20, in the US.

Bait-ul-Maal Zumurrad Khan said Jinnah's family was the state's guest and would stay in Islamabad for a week.

According to him, Aslam Jinnah and family are scheduled to meet Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other dignitaries during the stay. He said Jinnah's family would visit parliament on Monday to meet National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza and other dignitaries. (ANI)