Abdul Qayyum Khan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abdul Qayyum Khan
Abdul Qayyum Khan

Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan (b. 16 July,1901 d. 22 October 1981), nicknamed the "Lion of the Frontier" by his supporters, was a major figure in Pakistan politics, in particular in the North-West Frontier Province where he served as deputy speaker, Chief Minister and Minister in the Central Government as well as Federal Interior Minister. Qayyum Khan, a barrister by profession, was of Kashmiri origin. His father Khan Abdul Hakim was a Tehsildar in the North-West Frontier Province.

A former Congressite, he defected to the Muslim League in the mid 1940's and was a key figure in the Pakistan movement in the North-West Frontier Province. An honest man, but a harsh ruler, he was known in his later life for his development work in the province, especially for the construction of Peshawar University, primary education, hydro-electric projects like the Warsak dam and his deep dislike as well as brutal suppression of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement. His role in ordering the Babra Sharif massacre is one which he faces much criticism for, that in combination with the brutal crackdown against his former colleagues in the Congress party earned him their lasting hatred.

He served as Central Minister for Industries, Food and Agriculture Minister in 1953.

Arrested by the Ayub Khan regime, he was disqualified from politics and imprisoned for 2 years before finally being released. Contesting the 1970 elections from three seats as leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Qayyum faction he won all National Assembly seats and entered into alliance with the PPP after East Pakistan broke away in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Appointed Federal interior Minister by Zulfiqar Bhutto he served in that post till the 1977 elections when his party suffered a near total rout. After Zia-ul-Haqs assumption of power, Qayyum Khan tried to unify all the disparate Muslim League factions. His efforts were inconclusive and he died on 22 October 1981.[1]

He was always opposed by Khan Habibullah Khan; they were life-long rivals since they were young class-mates at Islamia College, Peshawar.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Abdul Qayyum Khan, Served As Pakistani Interior Minister New York Times Published: October 24, 1981. Retrieved 4-11-08


[edit] Further reading

Hassan, Syed Minhaj-ul. NWFP Administration under Abdul Qaiyum Khan, 1947-53.

[edit] Also see

Political offices
Preceded by
Dr. Khan Sahib
Chief Minister of the North-West Frontier Province
23 August 1947 - 23 April 1953
Succeeded by
Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan
Preceded by
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Interior Minister of Pakistan
13 May 1972 - 13 January 1977
Succeeded by
[[]]