Sardar Amir Azam Khan
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Sardar Amir Azam (born October 1912, died 1976) was a Pakistani politician and entrepreneur. Azam was a famous cabinet minister during the 1950s and was a pioneer of low cost housing in Pakistan. Initially he emerged in 1951 as an M.C.A. (Member of Constitutional Assembly) in the very first Pakistani government headed by Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, and later re-emerged as a minister in succeeding administrations.
Sardar Amir Azam Khan was a self-less participant in the Pakistan Movement and was a believer in the ideology of Pakistan. He was an embodiment of patriotism, national service and social welfare. He was a great man in the real sense of the term and devotion to Pakistan and was one of those who truly worked for the betterment of their country. He was a responsible wise and capable man and was always obedient to his elders. He was by nature a peaceful man whose heart was large enough to welcome more and more friends. His ideas were liberal. His memory was capacious and retentive. Judgment clear, rapid and decisive.
Sardar Amir Azam was born in Gujrat in Punjab Province and was the eldest son of Sardar Muhammad Akram, a Superintendent of Police who had been born in Uttar Pradesh Province and a former student of M.A.O. College, now known as Aligarh Muslim University. His ancestors were Ghilzai people belonging to the tribal Afghan border state of Bajour, presently located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan (FATA). They spread from NWFP to the province of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab more than 100 years ago before the creation of Pakistan. His grandfather, Sardar Muhammad Afzal, was a Tehsildar of Haripur. His maternal grandfather was from Gujrat in Punjab.
Sardar Amir Azam got his early education from the Campbelpur High School from District Attock previously known as Campbelpur. After his matriculation he attended Government Intermediate College Punjab. He lived in Punjab until 1930. He then moved to Muzaffarnagar where his father Sardar Muhammad Akram worked for Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan as his Manager. Mr. Khan entrusted his father to manage his properties and farms in Uttar Pradesh. Azam attended the Meerut College and completed his graduation from Meerut and obtained a Law Degree. He further completed his Masters in Political Science from Allahabad University. Furthermore he also remained a student of Sir Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal for a concise period These were the days when Sardar Amir Azam became associated with Liaquat Ali Khan and his political abilities were discovered. He took part in political activities during his College years. He was a faithful and dependable friend and a good speaker in college debate.
He married his first cousin Akbari Begum in 1934. He married again in 1946 and 1956, respectively.
In 1936, Sardar Amir Azam joined the Muslim League as the Secretary for Muzaffarnagar, and soon he was elected a member of the U.P. Muslim League Council. He remained for sometime the secretary of District Muslim League and thus he had the experience of the administrative organizing functions. In this way by his hard and sincere work and endeavor he paved his way to attain leadership in future. He supported Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan and the Muslim League in the 1945-46 Central Legislature Elections from Meerut Constituency of Uttar Pradesh. During the Pakistan Movement he had the opportunity to work with the most prominent leaders of the Muslim League and whatever he learned in the past helped him a lot in his future.
Soon after Pakistan's independence he moved to Punjab and permanently resided in Rawalpindi. He spent most of his earlier days following the Indian partition in Rawalpindi. During those days of great problems and communal riots all over India, refugees were coming in a large numbers to settle in Pakistan. These refugees were forced to abandon their places and homelands and to move to Pakistan.Azam was a devout Pakistani and softhearted as well. Therefore even before joining the cabinet he made endeavor to solve problems of refugees at large. He worked devotedly for their relief and rehabilitation in his district. He soon attained a prominent position in the public life of Rawalpindi and became the president of the Municipal Committee and also the President of Rawalpindi City Muslim League.
After Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah formed the very first government headed by Liaquat Ali Khan Azam supported the Muslim League from Punjab in 1951 and was nominated MCA by Liaquat Ali Khan in the 1st Central Government. He further held offices of planning commission, and as Chairman of the Newspaper known as Pakistan Standard that was a part of Muslim League. He took part in the progress of journalism in the country.
After the assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan Sardar Amir Azam was nominated the very Defense Minister of Pakistan during the government of Khawaja Nazimuddin (2nd Central Government)[1]. In 1952 he participated in the Ottawa Commonwealth Conference, and thus made an extensive tour of Canada, USA and some European Countries on essential government assignment. Then he was further appointed the Minister of State for Defence from 7th December 1953 to 24th October 1954 in the 3rd Central Government [2] [3] in Pakistan. Simultaneously he also served as the very first Chairperson of PIA (Pakistan International Airways now known as Pakistan International Airline) [4].
He was also nominated the secretary of Election Committee of Sindh Muslim League. Azam continued his support for the Muslim League as an organizer in consecutive elections held in Sindh and East Bengal until 1954. From, 24th October 1954 to 11th August 1955, Sardar Amir Azam was appointed Central Minister for Rehabilitation [5] in Muhammad Ali Bogra's cabinet.
In October 1955, The Republican Party (Pakistan) was formed by a break away of the Muslim League and other politicians supporting the creation of the West Pakistan province. Sardar Amir Azam was appointed the leader of the Republican Party (Pakistan) from Gujrat District, in Punjab. [6]. From 11th -Aug-1955 to 12th -Sept-1956, Sardar Amir Azam was nominated the Minister of State for Refugees & Rehabilitation and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affair simultaneously. [7]. Due to his loyalty to democratic principles and values, he is also known as one of the drafters of the 1956 Constitution of Pakistan. [8] which was the main reason for his differences with the oppressors of his own era.
In 1957 Sardar Amir Azam was appointed Minister for Information & Broadcast. From 29th March 1958 to 7th October 1958 Azam was nominated the Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs at the same time. [9] He departed from politics before the proclamation of martial law in 1958, when Pakistan was heading toward political instability. He declined offers to join the succeeding governments.
Instead, Azam planned and assisted in the formation of the House Building Finance Corporation of Pakistan with the Finance Minister Muhammad Shoaib in 1962 to support low-cost housing projects in the country. He then formed the Al Azam Construction Company and was the first to introduce low-cost housing in Pakistan. Since he had been the Rehabilitation & Refugee Minister of Pakistan therefore he was well aware of the refugee problems. His aim was to provide low priced housing for low-income groups. Later the Al Azam project proved a milestone for others in Pakistan. He remained engaged in housing and construction work until he died on 19th February 1976, and left a glorious past for the young generation to follow and act upon it.
To honor his services to his country, the University of Karachi presents the Sardar Amir Azam Khan Gold Medal each year to the outstanding B.A. students (Hons) in Political Science.
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