The participants prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss, said a press release.
The widow of late Professor Dr. Bilqees Gul, who joined the reference by telephone, shared that Dr. Khan was a caring husband and loving father and always encouraged youngsters, who had goals and better plans for their lives.
She said that although late Dr. Khan was aware of the fact that his health was not sound yet he was more worried about the KU. Vice Chancellor of Ziauddin University, Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, who is also the former vice chancellor of KU, said university teachers in general and of the KU in particular must be a sensible persons and must be able to give and accept challenges. And, he continued, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan had both qualities.
He mentioned that being a vice chancellor, a person has to face lots of problems from every sector of the society as they want to be entertained regardless if it was against the merit and standing firmly on merit policy is not easy at all. However, Dr. Khan had never compromised in his life as well as during his vice chancellorship of KU.
"He was energetic and electrifying person with lots of ambitions about science and betterment of Karachi University. I always advised him to have patience as he cannot bring changes rapidly as it takes time," he said.
He said Dr. Khan had only one dream of his life that was, to see KU as one of the topmost varsities of the world. Dr. Khan was a noble human being, an intellectual, best teacher, researcher, scholar and a scientist. He urged to further Dr. Khan's work especially in the field of research and fulfill his mission of converting our Alma Mater into a leading and top university of the world.
Another former VC-KU Professor Dr. Muhammad Qaiser said his relations with Dr. Khan were like a friend instead of teacher-student relationship.
He said that a Vice Chancellor of a public sector university always remained under pressure because of having limited resources available in the face of many problems and difficulties.
"When I was VC of KU, I only got Rs 200 million during my whole time but Dr. Khan could manage to bring a good amount of money due to which lots of issues were addressed and situation improved."
Former KU Pro-VC Professor Dr. Shahana Urooj Kazmi said Dr. Khan was a dynamic person and played a front role for execution of every important task. He was recognized for his services in botany and halophytes and received a number of prestigious awards from Pakistani governments and around the globe.
A close friend of Dr. Khan and Director General of Dr. A. Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering at KU, Professor Dr. Abid Azhar said that they were friends for last 50 years. "We, being his close friends decided that Dr. Khan should be the next VC after Professor Dr. Muhammad Qaiser and convinced the Sindh Chief Minister House."
Dr. Shakeel-ur-Rehman Farooqi of Genetics Department of KU, expressing his grief on the demise of Dr. khan said only two days back, a condolence meeting on the death of a former Vice Chancellor Dr. Jameel Jalibi was held at same place of the Arts Department.
Dr. Ajmal Khan talked about how significant individuals were leaving one after another for heavenly abode in quick succession.
Dr. Khan urged him to preserve all the events that he had witnessed or knew of and write a history of the University of Karachi, he recalled.
Dr Farooqi regretted that at the very moment, no one knew that Dr. Khan was about to leave forever. But still, it did not turn out to be a surprise.
His friends and family knew his heart condition was deteriorating. He needed surgery urgently, nevertheless, Dr. Khan kept delaying it for a suitable time when the university would not have an urgent issue to be taken care of.
"Dr. Khan preferred the university over his own life," he remarked.
Director Evening, KU, Professor Dr. Abid Hassnain, said that he was inspired with the vision of late Dr. Khan and his dedication to resolve all issues of the varsity. Dr. Khan wanted to serve the teaching and non-teaching community of Karachi University and fought for their rights at every platform available.
Other speakers included Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Lyari, Professor Dr. Akhtar Baloch; Dr. Salman Gulzar, one of Dr. Khan's students, and faculty member of Institute of Sustainable Halophytes Utilization; Director International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences at KU, Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary; Dean, Faculty of Education, KU, Professor Dr. Nasir Sulman; Dean, Faculty of Law of KU, Justice Professor Dr. Ghous Muhammad; Dean, Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences of KU, Professor Dr.
Tahir Ali, former president Karachi University Teachers' Association, Professor Dr. Jamil Kazmi; President KUTS Professor Dr. Anila Amber Malik; former chairman, Botany, in KU, Professor Dr. Mehmood Ahmed; VC Iqra University, Dr. Waseem Qazi and President Unikarians International, Professor Ejaz Ahmed Faruqi.