Abdur Rab Nishtar
Encyclopedia
Sardar
Abdur Rab Nishtar (June 13, 1899 in Peshawar
, North-West Frontier Province
, Pakistan
– February 14, 1958 in Karachi
) was a Muslim League stalwart, Pakistan movement
activist and later Pakistani politician.
family of Zhob and settled in Peshawar. He completed his early education in mission school and later Sanatan Dharram High School in Mumbai. He graduated from Edwardes College
but later on completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Punjab University
. He later went to Aligarh and received an LL.B with honours from Aligarh Muslim University (now in India) in 1925.
1927-31, was elected Municipal Commissioner, Peshawar Municipal committee, successively from 1929–38, joined All-India Muslim League became a confidante of Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah
. In 1932, remained a member AIML Council, 1936, member NWFP legislative Assembly 1937-45, Finance Minister
NWFP 1943-45, member AIML Working Committee, 1944–47, represented the AIML at Simla Tripartite Conference 1946.
Ousted from provincial politics through the machinations of Abdul Qayyum Khan
in the 1946 The Leader at pakistan.gov.pk The last was an Untouchable
who was opposed to the Congress.
es, the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan
.
(the first Pakistani governor in Pakistan's history, till that time the British government still continued with previous English Governors). He effectively ran the Governorship for two years paving the way for restoration of an elected government in 1951.
as West Pakistan chief minister while Nishtar wanted a League man for the office. But a big majority of the League leaders, including Nawab Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani and Mumtaz Daultana, supported Iskander Mirza.
. Nishtar Medical College
in Multan
; Nishtar Park
and Nishtar Road in Karachi
are named after him.
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
Abdur Rab Nishtar (June 13, 1899 in Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, North-West Frontier Province
North-West Frontier Province
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province and various other names, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the north-west of the country...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
– February 14, 1958 in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
) was a Muslim League stalwart, Pakistan movement
Pakistan Movement
The Pakistan Movement or Tehrik-e-Pakistan refers to the historical movement to have an independent Muslim state named Pakistan created from the separation of the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent, partitioned within or outside the British Indian Empire. It had its origins in the...
activist and later Pakistani politician.
Education
Nishtar's ancestors belonged to a prominent Kakar PashtunPashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
family of Zhob and settled in Peshawar. He completed his early education in mission school and later Sanatan Dharram High School in Mumbai. He graduated from Edwardes College
Edwardes College
Edwardes College is an undergraduate and graduate institution in the city of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province along Pakistan’s northwest border with Afghanistan...
but later on completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Punjab University
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
. He later went to Aligarh and received an LL.B with honours from Aligarh Muslim University (now in India) in 1925.
Political career
A man of deep religious convictions he also had a deep interest in Islamic mysticism, a fact which probably reflects the influence of his associate Maulana Ali. Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar remained member of Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
1927-31, was elected Municipal Commissioner, Peshawar Municipal committee, successively from 1929–38, joined All-India Muslim League became a confidante of Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
. In 1932, remained a member AIML Council, 1936, member NWFP legislative Assembly 1937-45, Finance Minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
NWFP 1943-45, member AIML Working Committee, 1944–47, represented the AIML at Simla Tripartite Conference 1946.
Ousted from provincial politics through the machinations of Abdul Qayyum Khan
Abdul Qayyum Khan
Abdul Qayyum Khan was a major figure in Pakistan politics, in particular in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province where he served as deputy speaker, Chief Minister and Minister in the Central Government and as Federal Interior Minister.-Early life:His father Khan Abdul Hakim was a Tehsildar in N.W.F.P...
in the 1946 The Leader at pakistan.gov.pk The last was an Untouchable
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
who was opposed to the Congress.
es, the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan
Dominion of Pakistan
The Dominion of Pakistan was an independent federal Commonwealth realm in South Asia that was established in 1947 on the partition of British India into two sovereign dominions . The Dominion of Pakistan, which included modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, was intended to be a homeland for the...
.
Federal Minister
After independence, Nishtar was appointed Minister for communication in Pakistan. After the dismissal of the Punjab Provincial government in 1949, Sardar Nishtar was appointed Governor of PunjabGovernor of Punjab (Pakistan)
The Governor of Punjab is the appointed head of state of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. The governor is designated by the Prime Minister and is normally regarded a ceremonial post...
(the first Pakistani governor in Pakistan's history, till that time the British government still continued with previous English Governors). He effectively ran the Governorship for two years paving the way for restoration of an elected government in 1951.
Nomination for Prime Minister
Nishtar was considered a serious contender for the post of Prime Minister after Liaqat Ali Khan's assassination, his appointment was blocked by senior officials including future President Iskander Mirza because of his conservative views.Opposition Leader
He subsequently fell out with the government over the dismissal of Khawaja Nazimuddin's government by Governor General Ghulam Muhammad. Refusing to be involved in what he perceived as an undemocratic act Nishtar went into opposition. In 1956, when the first constitution was adopted, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar was elected president of the party against the wishes of President Iskandar Mirza and then prime minister Chaudhry Mohammad Ali who were backing Dr. Khan SahibKhan Sahib
Khan Sahib - a compound of khan and sahib - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred exclusively on Muslim, Parsi and Jewish subjects of the British Indian Empire...
as West Pakistan chief minister while Nishtar wanted a League man for the office. But a big majority of the League leaders, including Nawab Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani and Mumtaz Daultana, supported Iskander Mirza.
Leader of Muslim League
He subsequently took over the leadership of the Muslim League and the League was expected to do well in West Pakistan in the planned 1959 elections.Death
Abdur Rab Nishtar died on February 14, 1958 in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. Nishtar Medical College
Nishtar Medical College
Nishtar Medical College is a medical school located in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. It is named after Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, a celebrated companion of Father of the Nation Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the then Governor of Punjab province. It is one of the premier medical schools of the country...
in Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
; Nishtar Park
Nishtar Park
The Nishtar Park is located in the area of Soldier Bazar Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.It is named after Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar one of main leaders of Pakistan Movement...
and Nishtar Road in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
are named after him.
External links
- Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Pioneers of Freedom site
- OPF page
- Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar- A Man for all Seasons