On October 16 each year, the Pakistan nation pays homage to Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of independent Pakistan and Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s right-hand man.
He was born in Karnal, which was then in the Punjab Province of British India on October 1, 1895. Liaquat Ali Khan received his education from the Aligarh Muslim University in India, and subsequently, at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
After Quaid-e-Azam, Liaquat Ali Khan was one of the most influential leaders during the Pakistan Movement and early years of independent Pakistan. In 1943, Quaid referred to him as “my right hand” and he truly was.
The Quaid appointed him as general secretary of the All-India Muslim League in 1936. For a decade before independence, he played an important role in party affairs and activities.
Liaquat Ali Khan was an experienced legislator as he served as a member of the United Provinces Assembly since 1927 and, since 1941, in the Central Legislative Assembly where he was Quaid’s deputy. Also, he was the finance minister in the interim government of pre-partitioned united India between 1946 and 1947. There is no doubt that with all these accolades, the choice of Liaquat Ali Khan as the first Prime Minister of Pakistan by Quaid-e-Azam was more than justified.
Being the Nawab of Karnal, Liaquat Ali Khan sacrificed his land to serve Pakistan. He along with Quaid-e-Azam was from that generation of leaders that believed in politics being a noble profession to serve the people. But sadly, our current generation of politicians believe in the politics of self-enrichment rather than sacrifice and integrity.
It has never been recorded that Liaquat Ali Khan expressed any regrets for migrating to Pakistan at the cost of leaving behind his lands and wealth in India but we have a former three-time Prime Minister whining about being asked how he and his family accumulated vast wealth while being in public office for over three decades.
Liaquat Ali Khan had so much passion for creating an independent Muslim state in the Indian subcontinent, he wanted to serve the newly-formed state of Pakistan in any capacity, “If I can render service to Pakistan as a chaprasi. I shall be the proudest man in the country.” Contrast this to our current batch of politicians who have not sacrificed anything for this country but portray themselves as ‘Nelson Mandelas’ and make us feel that they are doing us a favor by holding elected office.
Another sacrifice made by Liaquat Ali Khan and his wife Ra ’ana Liaquat Ali Khan at the time of independence was bestowing their grand Delhi residence on Hardinge Road to Pakistan as the permanent ambassadorial residence, now renamed Pakistan House. Can our modern-day ‘Mandelas’ and ‘democrats’ make such a personal financial sacrifice for Pakistan?
Knowing the financial hardship faced by the citizens of a new country, Liaquat Ali Khan as Prime Minister led by example and lived an austere life. He fittingly said, “The Prime Minister of a poor country cannot afford to have new clothes, lavish food and personal home himself.” We can never imagine our ‘champions of democracy’ today would ever sacrifice the trappings and benefits of power.
Being an immigrant, Liaquat Ali Khan was entitled to a house to replace the one he left behind in India. However, he adamantly refused until all the immigrants were allotted houses. Ambassador Jamsheed Marker narrates the following when he and his wife were invited to lunch at PM House, “After a while, the PM came in seething with rage. “Normally Liaquat didn’t lose his cool. But that day he fumed,” says Marker. “How dare these evacuee fellows present me with a number of properties saying that I can have them in lieu of my properties I have left behind in India?” the prime minister told Marker. “I threw back the folder at them saying that they should never raise this subject again until they had provided shelter to each and every refugee living out in the open-air all-over Karachi.”
In the wake of Quaid’s death on September 11, 1948, came the Indian invasion and occupation of Hyderabad Deccan. The nation was dejected, because of India’s consistently aggressive record coupled with Pakistan’s deficiency in terms of armor and armed forces; but Liaquat Ali Khan showed grit and valor and raised the nation’s sagging morale by taking a bold stand at this critical juncture, “In the event of an attack on Pakistan…”, he declared, “myself, my colleagues and every Pakistani will shed his last drop of blood in defending every inch of the soil of Pakistan.” This helped the nation regain its self-confidence.
At the time of martyrdom on October 16, 1951, in Rawalpindi, Liaquat Ali Khan recited Kalima-e-Tayyaba three times and uttered these last words, “May God keep Pakistan safe” before expiring. Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan left this Dunya with only Rs. 16 in his bank account and no home in his name. The Nawab died as a pauper in the service of Pakistan.
Liaquat Ali Khan was pivotal in the consolidation of Pakistan, especially in the aftermath of Quaid-e-Azam’s death, and set Pakistan on the path to industrialization. Also, his actions to ensure the existence of Pakistan defied the critics and odds. Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan was a true believer in Quaid and Allama Iqbal’s vision of Pakistan, a great leader, and statesman. We needed more people like him to build this country into a great and premier nation.
