Shaikh Wali Shujai: A Religious Reformer and Community Builder

Shaikh Wali Shujai, a prominent religious reformer, was born in the picturesque Braldo Pakora Valley, a small town in District Shigar, Gilgit-Baltistan. He has played a significant role in transforming the vulnerable region onto a path of education and awareness.

Despite facing numerous challenges and coming from a remote area with limited guidance, Shaikh Wali successfully gained early Islamic education in his hometown. He later moved to Skardu and subsequently pursued higher studies in Iran, studying at the renowned seminaries of Qom and Mashhad.

Shaikh Wali returned to Pakistan in the early 2000s as a productive and visionary scholar. He shared that upon his arrival in Skardu, he was offered a prestigious job managing a mosque with a handsome salary. However, he turned down the offer to return to his underprivileged community and serve them instead.

Determined to uplift his people, he returned to his hometown, where he assumed leadership responsibilities. He began raising awareness about people’s rights, emphasizing education, and inspiring change in societal thinking through his eloquent and powerful speeches.

His efforts were quickly recognized and warmly supported—financially, spiritually, and materially—by the local community. With this support, he founded the Ali Raza Educational Welfare Institution in Thongal, a small village. This institution, established on a vast piece of land, provides both Islamic and modern education with dedication and integrity. Shaikh Wali firmly believes that education is the only tool that can change the fate of the region.

As a result, the institution has produced socially responsible individuals who are now actively serving the community in various capacities.

Despite limited resources, Shaikh Wali also took initiatives to combat climate change by raising awareness about afforestation, ecosystem preservation, and the environmental impact of human activities.

Though faced with opposition and dissent from certain groups, his unwavering courage, dedication, and loyalty helped him overcome challenges and emerge victorious in his mission.

He was also the first individual in the region to teach the people how to organize public rallies, deliver speeches, and conduct important Islamic gatherings.

Recognizing the need for expansion, Shaikh Wali established a branch of the Ali Raza Institution in Skardu, providing educational opportunities to local boys and girls.

Currently, he is working on a project to build a passenger cabin in Skardu, funded by generous community donations. The construction of a well-developed building for the Braldo community is already underway.

Understanding the needs of students pursuing higher education outside Gilgit-Baltistan, he also founded a fully furnished Ali Raza Hostel in Karachi. This facility supports students from GB who move to the city for their studies.

In a recent development, Shaikh Wali, alongside renowned Islamic reciter Ahmed Raza Nasiri and his son Mehdi, arranged for six solar panels to be installed at the hostel. These panels provide 24/7 electricity, entirely free of cost for the students.

Far from slowing down, Shaikh Wali remains committed to serving his people. Despite his many achievements, he continues to strive for more, driven by a deep sense of responsibility and love for his vulnerable community.