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.

Early life

His father Khan Abdul Hakim was a Tehsildar in the North-West Frontier Province. Qayyum Khan, a barrister by profession, was of Kashmiri origin.

Political career

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. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9506EEDC1039F937A15753C1A967948260 Abdul Qayyum Khan, Served As Pakistani Interior Minister] New York Times Published: October 24, 1981. Retrieved 4-11-08]

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

References

Further reading

*Hassan, Syed Minhaj-ul. NWFP Administration under Abdul Qaiyum Khan, 1947-53.
*Qaiyum, Abdul, Gold and Guns on the Pathan Frontier, Bombay, 1945

See also

*Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan
*Yusuf Khattak
###@@@KEY@@@###succession box |title=Chief Minister of the North-West Frontier Province
years=23 August, 1947 - 23 April, 1953
before= Dr. Khan Sahib
after=Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan

succession box |title=Interior Minister of Pakistan
years=13 May, 1972 - 13 January, 1977
before= Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
after=