Biography

Sardar Sir Muhammad Nawaz Khan



Though Attock was made a district in the year 1904, yet this area has a remarkable history spread over centuries. This is a land of massive rocks, sand dunes and green valleys and has retained inside many a hidden secret of the history. The dauntless, brave and respectful people of the area have tremendous virtues of eloquence, determination and enthusiasm like flow of clear and transparent water of Indus River. This land produced several prominent sons of the soil who achieved world- wide fame and eminence and because of their meritorious services they established and upheld their own name as well as that of their area. The Tehsil Fateh Jang of District Attock has a similar significant history and whenever you find a mention of Tehsil Fateh Singh in the annals of the history, the state Kot Fateh Khan appears in the form for a prominent and bright chapter. The reason is that the credit to get this Tehsil that exists since 1865, prominence and repute at both national and international level, goes to the elders and leaders of Kot Fateh Khan. Though, this story of fame and reputation is centuries old, yet another son of the soil, namely Sardar Sir Muhammad Nawaz Khan own credit for adding to the splendor and eminence of the area. Although, the area saw many persons who rose high on the horizon of the politics, yet they included some individuals whose fame still live up to the age. By their enlightenment. Patriotism, unblemished political career, high moral values and public service, they have left deep and golden imprints that even vicissitudes could not succeed in erasing these. These persons, in spite of having power of rule, wealth and immense authority, did not tread on a path that could exclude possibility of emotional fault at the start or at the end. Their solid character and strong morality were greatly attributed to their fame and repute like a brick has in a structure. It you have a glance over the list of those persons you will find Raees-e-Azam of Kot Fateh Khan Nawab Sir Muhammad Nawaz Khan at the top of the list. His life, both pre-independence and after establishment of Pakistan, is reflective of straightforward politics and nobility. Nawab Sardar Sir Muhammad Nawaz Khan, was born in August 1901 to Sardar Muhammad Ali Khan Gheba, a Raees of the famous state of Kot Fateh Khan of District Attock ( then Campbelpur). When he was eighteen months old, he was deprived of his father’s affection and love due to his demise. . This was an enormous gap in his life which could not be engulfed but his mother brought him up with unprecedented determination and courage. She never allowed his son feel deprived of his father. He received his early education from Aitcheson Chiefs College, Lahore. Because of being of young age and his preoccupation in education, his duties as Chief of the vast state were performed by Court of Wards. Later, he proceeded to England for higher education from where he graduated from the Royal Military College Sandharst in the first Indian mutual batch. He had also the honor to be one of the five Muslim students of this college who achieved higher academic degree from this institution. Besides him, Sahebzada Siknader Mirza, who later became the first President of Pakistan, also included in that batch. Nawab Sardar Muhammad Nawaz Khan served in the Third Queens Hazaras’ of the Indian Royal Army at Haiderabad, Deccan. When he said good-bye to the Army in 1926, he was an honorary Lt. Colonel. In the year 1927, when the Muslim s all over Indian were being infused with an awareness of freedom and preparations for a beginning of a new era were heading towards its high peak, he was elected member to the Indian Legislative Assembly, at the age of only 26 years. He was also given powers as an honorary magistrate and sub judge in his area. The British Government awarded him with a royal honor by bestowing upon him the title of ‘ Sir ‘ in the year 1939 in recognition of his meritorious services and service to the people in particular. In the year 1946, he was again awarded the rank of Knighthood “KCIE”. He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly and after establishment of Pakistan as member of West Pakistan Legislative Assembly; he represented his area for about 23 years. This is also worth mentioning here that during dispensation of his special duties, he never received any salary or other remuneration and privileges from the government. In spite of that all official honors and awards, he was a true Muslim besides being a simple, sincere and considerate person. He also rendered remarkable services during the freedom movement which is proved by a letter the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah wrote to Sardar Sir Muhammad Nawaz Khan in which he commended his valuable services and financial assistance to the freedom movement for Pakistan or to say to help Pakistan Muslim League. He had also had the honor of being the first Defense Minister of Pakistan after establishement of the country, with additional portfolio of Ministry of States and Frontier Regions. He worked with the first Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan. The state of his services was not confined as yet. He was appointed Malik Amir Muhammad Khan as the first Ambassador of Pakistan for France in 1950 in view of his services to the country and being highly educated. This was the period when Pakistan had emerged on the world map only three yeas ago and the country passed through great difficult period because of economic problems. When he reached France to assume the office as Ambassador, he required a chancery to discharge his duties but the condition of the country did not allow to construct new premises of the embassy there. At this critical juncture Sardar Sir Muhammad Nawaz Khan established a unique precedence out of his patriotism and generosity which would last alongwith green Pakistan flag as an example of love for the country as long as the world lives. He purchased piece of plot in the highly expensive area of Paris from his own purse and had a magnificent building constructed over it. When the building was completed, it was donated to the Government of Pakistan, which still houses the chancery of Pakistan and will remain as such till doomsday, Insha Allah. All of his life was marked as devoted to the service of the people of Pakistan. In view of his love for the nation and association with Muslim League, he was counted among those workers of the Muslim League, in whose veins love for the Muslim League and two-nation theory flowed like blood. He was a pious man and stories of his strong character are still cherished by the people. He has great devotion to the religious. Reading was his favorite hobby. There are stills a large number of rare books in his library. If you pick up a book from his library, you will find its every page with remarks entered thereon and words underlined which is indicative of the fact that he had studie every book of his library extensively. Because of his hard work day and night, he fell ill in the 1951. His doctor advised him complete rest. Accordingly he relinquished his official duties in 1952 and returned to this native place Kot Fateh Khan. That year his wife passed away. His wife was daughter of Nawab of Kala Bagh Malik Ata Muhammad khan and sister of Malik Amir Muhammad Khan. Allah Almighty blessed him with four daughters; the eldest one was married to Malik Yar Muhammad Khan of Pindi Gheb who was maternal nephew of Nawab of Kala Bagh Malik Amir Muhammad Khan. The second daughter’s marriage was solemnized with Sardar Mumtaz Hussain Khan of Kot Fateh Khan while the third daughter was married to Malik Muzaffar Khan, son of Nawab of Kala Bagh Malik Amir Muhammad Khan. The youngest daughter, who was most beloved to him, was married to colonel Chaudhry Mumtaz Ali Khan of Chakwal. The work relating to his political career and people services was further advanced and promoted by his maternal cousin and brother-in-law Nawab of Kala Bagh Malik Amir Muhammad Khan, who was a great sincere and simple person with hot temperament. He also got an opportunity to serve as Chairman Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation ( PIDC). In the year 1960, the President of Pakistan Field Marshal Ayub Khan on an advice by Qudratuallh Shahab, was appointed Governor of the West Pakistan. He proved to be a pretty good administrator and people friendly ruler. This was proved by a major example during the 1965 War when artificial shortage of the Sugar was created in the country. On his one order, the artificial shortage of the sugar was removed and the sugar hoarded in godowns was brought to the market for sale. During his tenure, he himself, used to visit around markets and bazaars to apprise himself of the people’s problems, check prices of consumer commodities and dealt strictly with traders who were found involved in profiteering and malpractices. Later he resigned from the office of Governor in 1967 due to differences with President Ayub Khan. He was assassinated in Kala Bagh in April 1968. Even today, his assassination is attributed to events following his strict measures against poverty and high prices. (Allah knows better) Sardar Muhammad Nawaz Khan, Raees-e-Azam of Kot Fateh Khan had great love and affection for his cousin Malik Amir Muhammad Khan, Nawab of Kala Bagh and patronized him in every respect. He was therefore, greatly shocked and grieved over his brutal murder. In the state of being grief- stricken caused by this tragic and horrible event, he breathed his last in April 1968.

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