Shaukat Hayat Khan
Encyclopedia
Shaukat Hayat Khan was a prominent Muslim League movement worker and political leader, who worked closely with the founder of Pakistan
, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
, in the Punjab
.
family of Wah
in Attock
, and he was the eldest son of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan
(1892-1942), the famous Punjabi
statesman and feudal baron, from his first wife Begum Zubaida Khanum, a lady from a prominent Kashmiri family settled in Amritsar
, British India. After his mother's early demise in 1919, th young Shaukat and his siblings were taken care of by their step-mother and in due course, he was sent to study at the Aitchison College
and the Aligarh University, briefly, before he was sent, in keeping with family tradition, to join the British Indian Army
, upon passing the qualifying examinations .
, he was formally commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 16th Light Cavalry
with effect from 15th July 1937. After some service on the North West Frontier, when World War II
broke out, he volunteered to go abroad for active service with any cavalry regiment being sent out to the Front, and was therefore seconded to Skinner's Horse. He thereafter served in Somalia
, the Middle East
and North Africa
from 1941 to 1942, first promoted as a Captain and then a War Substantive Major, until his father's death in December 1942, when he had to quit military service to take up his political role in the Punjab.
government. Dismissed in 1944 for his increasingly pro-All India Muslim League and pro-Jinnah ideals and policies, he was subsequently elected Deputy Leader of the Punjab League. Re-elected in 1946, he became one of the most prominent activists in the Muslim League's "Direct Action" campaign and the most famous and popular of the League's young leadership, winning te title of "Shaukat-i-Punjab "(Shaukat of the Punjab) from Jinnah himself. He probably played a significant role in eventually winning over the Punjabi Muslims in large numbers, to the cause of the League and of an independent Pakistan.
and briefly joined the Pakistan Azad Party along with Mian Iftikharuddin. Between the 1950s and 1970s, in his own words, he was 'an unlucky witness to the gradual destruction of the Quaid's (i.e. Jinnahs) Pakistan', at the hands of greedy and corrupt politicians and the Martial Law
regime.
Elected again from Attock in the 1970 general elections, he played a key role in the opposition negotiations with Zulfiqar Bhutto which led to the passage of Pakistan's first interim constitution. He died in 1998 and is survived by two sons and four daughters.
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...
, 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 the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
.
Background
Shaukat Hayat Khan (SHK) hailed from the famous Hayat KhattarKhattar
Khattar , is an upper caste Pushtun tribe in Afghanistan and Punjabi, in Punjab, it is variously classified asJatt and Khatri caste in India.-Origins:...
family of Wah
Wah
Wah is a city in the Rawalpindi District in Punjab, Pakistan. It contains a garden which is said to have been built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16th century. Wah Cantonment is nearby....
in Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
, and he was the eldest son of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan
Sikandar Hayat Khan
Sikandar Hayat Khan is the name of several Pakistanis:* Sikandar Hayat Khan , a Muslim political leader in the Punjab province of British India* Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, a former President and Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir...
(1892-1942), the famous Punjabi
Punjabi
Punjabi is an adjectival form of Punjab, which is the name of a region of South Asia where the five rivers of Sutlej, Beas, Raavi, Chenab and Jehlum flow. Usually it is referred to anything related to Punjabi. Eg Punjabi People, Punjabi food etc...
statesman and feudal baron, from his first wife Begum Zubaida Khanum, a lady from a prominent Kashmiri family settled in Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, British India. After his mother's early demise in 1919, th young Shaukat and his siblings were taken care of by their step-mother and in due course, he was sent to study at the Aitchison College
Aitchison College
Aitchison College, Lahore, is one of the most prestigious educational institutions of its kind in South Asia. Established in 1886, it has retained its character over the years, maintaining the public school tradition of providing an education that uses academics, sports and co-curricular activities...
and the Aligarh University, briefly, before he was sent, in keeping with family tradition, to join the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, upon passing the qualifying examinations .
Early Military Career
Upon completing his military training or cadetship at the Indian Military AcademyIndian Military Academy
The Indian Military Academy, Dehradun is the officer training school of the Indian Army. IMA was established in 1932.-Demands for an Indian military training academy:...
, he was formally commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 16th Light Cavalry
16th Light Cavalry
The 16th Light Cavalry is a regiment of the Armoured Corps, a primary combat arm of the Indian Army. Prior to India gaining independence from the British in 1947, it was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army...
with effect from 15th July 1937. After some service on the North West Frontier, when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, he volunteered to go abroad for active service with any cavalry regiment being sent out to the Front, and was therefore seconded to Skinner's Horse. He thereafter served in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
from 1941 to 1942, first promoted as a Captain and then a War Substantive Major, until his father's death in December 1942, when he had to quit military service to take up his political role in the Punjab.
Early Political Career
On taking up his late father's political mantle, he was duly elected to the Punjab Assembly and made a member of the cabinet under the new Punjab premier, Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana, and subsequently served as Minister for Public Works in the Unionist Muslim LeagueUnionist Muslim League
The Unionist Muslim League, also known simply as the Unionist Party was a political party based in the province of Punjab during the period of British rule in India. The Unionist Party mainly represented the interests of the landed gentry and landlords of Punjab, which included Muslims, Hindus and...
government. Dismissed in 1944 for his increasingly pro-All India Muslim League and pro-Jinnah ideals and policies, he was subsequently elected Deputy Leader of the Punjab League. Re-elected in 1946, he became one of the most prominent activists in the Muslim League's "Direct Action" campaign and the most famous and popular of the League's young leadership, winning te title of "Shaukat-i-Punjab "(Shaukat of the Punjab) from Jinnah himself. He probably played a significant role in eventually winning over the Punjabi Muslims in large numbers, to the cause of the League and of an independent Pakistan.
Later Career
After partition he left the Muslim League party amidst conflicts with Mian Mumtaz DaultanaMian Mumtaz Daultana
Mian Mumtaz Daultana he was the renown activist of "Teherek-e-Azadi" and one amongst the close friends of Quaid e Azam M Ali Jinah. His uncle Sir Shahab-ud-Din was the speaker of punjab assembly before separation of sub continent. and he was the 2nd Chief Minister of Punjab from 1951 to 1953, when...
and briefly joined the Pakistan Azad Party along with Mian Iftikharuddin. Between the 1950s and 1970s, in his own words, he was 'an unlucky witness to the gradual destruction of the Quaid's (i.e. Jinnahs) Pakistan', at the hands of greedy and corrupt politicians and the Martial Law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
regime.
Elected again from Attock in the 1970 general elections, he played a key role in the opposition negotiations with Zulfiqar Bhutto which led to the passage of Pakistan's first interim constitution. He died in 1998 and is survived by two sons and four daughters.
Further reading
- Shaukat Hyat Khan, "The Nation that Lost its Soul: Memoirs of Sirdar Shaukat Hayat Khan"; Lahore:Jang Publications,1995
See also
- Sikandar Hayat Khan
- Muhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad 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 ....
- Pakistan MovementPakistan MovementThe 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...
- All India Muslim League
- Malik Khizar Hayat Tiwana
- Skinner's Horse