Amir Mohammad Khan

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Nawab of Kalabagh Malik Amir Muhammad Khan (1910-1967), Ex-Governor West Pakistan

Malik Amir Mohammad Khan (died 1967) also known as Nawab of Kalabagh (Urdu: نواب کالا باغ ) was a prominent feudal lord,ruler and the seventh nawab of Kalabagh state, in Mianwali District of north western Punjab, Pakistan.

He belonged to famous Awan tribe.

He was crowned after the death of his father Nawab Malik Ata Muhammad Khan in 1924.

He was appointed Governor of West Pakistan on 12th of April 1960 by Pakistan President General Ayub Khan. An influential, autonomous and harsh ruler with great administrative capabilities, the Nawab remained Governor of West Pakistan till September 18, 1966.^[1]

He is considered a controversial figure by many historians. Although himself being an Aitchison College and then Oxford graduate, his policies were not education friendly. He strengthened the martial law government by his harsh tactics.He had all the qualities of a feudal lord.

However his role during the Indo-Pak war of 1965 is praised as he kept the law and order, controlled the prices, trafficking of the raw material and prevented the smuggling.

He has also been described as a man of principles and traditions. He liked to remain in the national dress and his cabinet members tried to please him by doing so. He once declined to shake hands with the British Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Pakistan as per his orthodox notion of not shaking hands with a woman.

Nawab sahib was urbane, sophisticated, tall, imposing figure with moustaches to match, a man given to commanding and having his commands obeyed.

Nawab (left) with president Ayub Khan (right)

The Nawab of Kalabagh emerged out with sterling qualities of leadership. He was upright, straight, honest and a very strict disciplinarian. He was a man of unassailable integrity and there were no scandals of corruption stalking him. In the days of yore, he would have been known as the Iron Duke.

On 26th November,1967 he was found murdered under mysterious circumstances. His son Malik Asad was booked as the prime suspect.

His descendants could'nt keep his legacy. His son Malik Muzaffar Khan won the National Assembly seat from NW-44, Mianwali-I in December 1970 elections. His other son Malik Allah Yar also remained the member of Majlis-e-Shoora during General Zia-ul-Haq's military regime. His grandson Malik Ammad Khan won the National Assembly seat from NA-71 Mianwali-I , in February 2008 elections as an independent candidate.

[edit] History

Kalabagh, on the bank of Indus River, became a small state ruled by the Nawab after the collapse of the Mughal Empire. He ruled Kalabagh state till his death. Till 1946, the Nawab was against the Muslim League. After Pakistan was established, the jagirdari system was abolished.