A memoir by former civil servant Muhammad Saeed Mehdi, titled The Eyewitness: Standing in the Shadows of Pakistan's History, has been hailed as a valuable contribution to Pakistan's historical record. The book offers a rare insider account of major political events, governance challenges, and decision-making processes spanning several decades.
Book Review Event at SDPI
The remarks were made during a book review event organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Monday. Speakers described the memoir as a blend of personal experiences and historical developments, providing valuable insights for researchers, students, policymakers, and future generations.
Chronicling Key National Events
The book chronicles key national events witnessed by the author during his long civil service career, from the era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the military takeover of 1999. SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said the book was more than an autobiography, calling it an important historical account by a career bureaucrat who had observed some of Pakistan's most significant political developments from close quarters.
Dr Suleri emphasised that sustainability was not limited to environmental and economic issues but also required an understanding of the political economy behind historical and political events. According to him, the memoir offers social scientists and researchers valuable insider perspectives on major national developments.
Journey from Partition to Civil Service
Dr Suleri noted that the book traces Mehdi's journey from his family's migration during Partition in 1947 to his education, entry into the civil service, and experiences during some of Pakistan's most dynamic political periods.
Author's Perspective
Speaking at the event, Mehdi, a former principal secretary to the prime minister and former chief secretary of Sindh, said the memoir was an effort to preserve history as witnessed from within the system. "What I have penned down is a living history," he said, adding that many civil servants do not document their experiences, resulting in the loss of valuable institutional memory. He said he had witnessed both the use and misuse of power during his career and had recorded events as he perceived them.
Mehdi described Bhutto's final meeting with Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto as one of the most unforgettable moments of his career.
