A LION-HEARTED LEADER

By Micheal P. Rossman edited by Vincent Lyn

Sardar Nouman Azam Mughal, son of Sardar Mohammad Umrao Khan, stands as a beacon of hope for voiceless communities, serving as their advocate and defender through his work as an attorney. A resilient and undefeatable spirit, Sardar Nouman is a man who conquers with love and kindness. A true patriot, he is a formidable voice against anti-state forces, always standing firm for the rights of others.

In 2021, he was honored with the Presidential Award by His Excellency Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary, the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Sardar Nouman comes from a distinguished lineage, having served with the International Human Rights Commission in New York and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and Immigration.

At just 24 years old, Sardar Nouman was appointed as the Coordinator for the Departments of State Disaster Management, Rehabilitation, and Civil Defense by the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He played a pivotal role in the rehabilitation of communities affected by disasters and has continued to inspire youth, focusing on their role in national development, civil-military relations, and fostering loyalty to the state.

Earlier this year, on January 7, 2024, Sardar Nouman survived a harrowing abduction attempt in which unknown assailants tried to smuggle him through Balochistan to Afghanistan, amidst Pakistan’s pre-election security challenges. Despite enduring such hardship, his patriotism remains unshaken. When asked why he does not leave the country despite the oppression he faces, Sardar Nouman famously responded, “I was born to die. We all must die one day, but a lion’s moment of life is worth more than a thousand years of a jackal’s.”

Though he has yet to receive justice, Sardar Nouman refuses to abandon his homeland. I, as his colleague and ally, have urged him to consider leaving, but he remains steadfast. When asked if he feels fear, Sardar Nouman redefined it: “Fear gives you two choices — face everything and run, or forget everything and rise.”

I stand with Sardar Nouman Azam Mughal.

Micheal P. Rossman
Former Executive Director, USAID Mission to South Asia
International Human Rights Expert
Rescue and Recovery Specialist
International Writer, US Times

Vincent Lyn

CEO & Founder of We Can Save Children

Deputy Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)

Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization

Economic & Social Council at United Nations (ECOSOC)

Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts Lyn