Ehtsham Haq,MD
APPNA BOD Candidate
Dedicated - Experienced - Independent
Trustworthy - Conflict Resolver
Our Humble Family
Haji Ghulam Jilani — My Father
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
In the early twentieth century, many immigrants from the Indian subcontinent—including Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs—arrived in California and contributed to the region’s growing agricultural community. My father, Haji Ghulam Jilani, was among those immigrants who came to the United States to work as a farmer before 2nd World War. He later returned home before the Partition of India in 1947.
Many APPNA members from the Bay Area and Sacramento region are familiar with our family’s history and longstanding connections to California.
Following Partition, my parents settled in Wazirabad, Pakistan, where I was raised and completed high school before moving to Lahore to continue my education. My mother was a devoted homemaker who embodied the traditional values of Pakistani family life and played an essential role in shaping our upbringing.
Saiqa Ehtsham — My Wife
Saiqa Ehtsham was born and raised in Chichawatni, Pakistan, apart from several childhood years spent in England. Her father moved to the United States in the early 1980s, and most of her family gradually immigrated during that decade.
Saiqa completed the accelerated mathematics undergraduate program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is now a successful Realtor and manages her own real estate business. Throughout our journey, she has remained a devoted wife, mother, professional, and an invaluable source of strength for our family.
Maryam Ehtsham — My Daughter
Maryam Ehtsham was born in Lahore and immigrated to the United States with her mother in the early 1990s. Because of the immigration process, I joined them later.
Maryam graduated from the UAB School of Medicine and is now a practicing internist in Dallas. She lives there with her husband, Dr. Farhan Abdullah, who is also an internist.
One of the most memorable exchanges between Maryam and her mother frequently occurred around our dinner table:
Saiqa: “Maryam, I want you to choose your career freely, without any pressure. However, medicine is the best profession, and you should become a doctor like your father.”
Maryam: “Mommy, you are forcing me to become a doctor!”
Despite these lighthearted conversations, Maryam ultimately chose medicine for herself and has developed a successful and rewarding career as a physician.
Numair Ehtsham — My Son
Numair Ehtsham graduated from the UAB School of Medicine and is currently a PGY-2 Internal Medicine resident at the University of South Alabama.
Our most common father-and-son dynamic has always been that Numair rarely says “no”—but, in the end, he thoughtfully follows the path he believes is right for him. His independence, determination, and commitment to medicine continue to make our family proud.
A Family Grounded in Service
From my father’s early journey to California to the professional accomplishments of Saiqa, Maryam, and Numair, our family’s story reflects perseverance, education, service, and the pursuit of opportunity. We remain deeply grateful for our heritage, our experiences in Pakistan and the United States, and the communities that have supported us throughout our journey.
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