Muhammad Aslam Khan Khattak

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Muhammad Aslam Khan Khattak (b. 1908) is a Pakistani politician and diplomat. In his youth he was part of the group along with Chaudhry Rehmat Ali who published the pamphlet titled now or never which coined the name Pakistan. He served closely with Dr Khan Sahib in the NWFP provincial government during his career as a civil servant, and after partition he was posted to Afghanistan where he played a key role in the failed negotiations for a confederation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the 1970 elections he was elected as an independent to the NWFP Provincial Assembly from Karak. He became speaker of the NWFP Assembly in 1972. He also served as Governor of NWFP briefly after the ouster of the NAP-JUI governor as well twice posted as ambassador. As a diplomat he served as ambassador to Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. Nominated to Zia ul Haqas Majlis-e-Shura he became a trusted political confidante of the Martial Law ruler.

He was elected MNA from his constituency and served as deputy Prime Minister to Prime Minister Junejo. After the restoration of Democracy in 1988 he joined the Pakistan Muslim League but was defeated in the 1988 elections. Re-elected again in 1990 he again served as Federal Minister in Nawaz Sharifs first government. Defeated in the 1993 elections, he left the PML shortly before the 1997 election over a difference in party tickets for his grandson and son in law. He has now retired from active politics.