Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri
Encyclopedia
Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri (10 June 1916-2 December 2001) was a politician and was involved in the Pakistan Movement
.
Khan Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri belonged to the Niazi
tribe in Rokhri
, Mianwali
, Punjab
, Pakistan
and also had roots in Samand Khel. He was also known as Khan Sahab a title given by the British to him and to his father. They became the first father and son to have been awarded the title. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri returned the title to the British on the call of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
. He also participated in the Kashmir freedom struggle in 1948, his brother Habib Ullah Khan Rokhri fell martyr fighting in Kashmir.
. He was also Elected MLA in 1946 and then again in 1951. He also served as an MPA in 1972. In the elections of 1977, Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was elected MNA defeating the candidate of the PNA, Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi. He served in the Senate from 1985 to 1997 whereas in the meantime his son, Aamer Hayat Khan Rokhri served as an MPA and MNA and his nephew, Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri also served as an MPA, MNA and Punjab Food Minister. Rokhri did not only succeed from Mianwali rather he also succeeded in Bhakkar
. He was a close companion of Amir Mohammad Khan, Governor of West Pakistan
. He was also a close friend of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi
and Ayub Khan (his son is married to Ayub's granddaughter). Rokhri was offered the governorship many times but consistently refused. He was referred to as "Waday Khan Sahib" in Mianwali. He was one of the Pakistan Muslim League
's senior leaders, and worked alongside Quaid-e-Azam.
Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri received the award for Tehrik-i-Pakistan from the then Governor of Punjab
, Makhdoom Sajjad Hussain Qureshi. He was awarded a Gold Medal by Nawaz Sharif
for being a senior member of the independence movement.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Pakistani Punjab despite the opposition of figures such as Mian Mumtaz Daultana
, Chief Minister of Punjab.
Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri along with Balakh Sher Mazari
, Anwar Noon, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, and Sardar Ahmad Ali resigned from the National Assembly when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
jailed their close friend, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi
. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was a close friend of the Pir of Pagaro, Makhdoom Hassan Mehmood, Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi, Balakh Sher Mazari
, Colonel Abid Hussain and others. The affection the people of Mianwali
had for Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was obvious to anyone who attended his funeral. His death was condoled by leaders from every party whereas many leading politicians attended his funeral in his ancestral village of Rokhri including Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
, former Prime Minister, Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain
, Zila Nazim Gujrat, Gohar Ayub Khan
, former Foreign Minister & Speaker of NA, Syeda Abida Hussain
, former Federal Minister, and others. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri's political influence was greatest in the district of Mianwali and Bhakkar. The Utra's and Dhandla's of Bhakkar were close political companions of Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri.
He wrote an autobiography Main aur Mera Pakistan.
He leaves behind a son and five daughters. His son Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri is a MPA
and his nephew Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri
, is a former MPA
, MNA
and Punjab Revenue, Relief & Consolidations Minister. Gul Hameed Rokhri's son, Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri
is also an MNA
.
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...
.
Khan Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri belonged to the Niazi
Niazi
The Niazi are a tribe of Ghilzai Pashtun people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey. The name Niazi is derived from Niazai, like the other forms of Pashtun tribes, such as Yusufzai and Orakzai...
tribe in Rokhri
Rokhri
Rokhri is a town and union council of Mianwali District, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 32°39'25N 71°30'37EThe Pashtun tribe of Niazi is in the majority in this town...
, Mianwali
Mianwali
Mianwali is the capital city of Mianwali District and situated in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located on the eastern bank of the Indus River...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, 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...
and also had roots in Samand Khel. He was also known as Khan Sahab a title given by the British to him and to his father. They became the first father and son to have been awarded the title. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri returned the title to the British on the call of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Activism
As a member of the independence movement, Rokhri was jailed by the British because he removed the Union Jack from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Mianwali DistrictMianwali District
Mianwali is a district in the northwest of Punjab province, Pakistan. It borders eight districts: Attock District in the north, Chakwal District in the northeast, Khushab District in the east, and Bhakkar District in the south, while Lakki Marwat lies to the west, Kohat and Karak districts to the...
. He also participated in the Kashmir freedom struggle in 1948, his brother Habib Ullah Khan Rokhri fell martyr fighting in Kashmir.
Career
After the foundation of Pakistan, he became the first Chairman of the District Council of MianwaliMianwali
Mianwali is the capital city of Mianwali District and situated in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located on the eastern bank of the Indus River...
. He was also Elected MLA in 1946 and then again in 1951. He also served as an MPA in 1972. In the elections of 1977, Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was elected MNA defeating the candidate of the PNA, Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi. He served in the Senate from 1985 to 1997 whereas in the meantime his son, Aamer Hayat Khan Rokhri served as an MPA and MNA and his nephew, Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri also served as an MPA, MNA and Punjab Food Minister. Rokhri did not only succeed from Mianwali rather he also succeeded in Bhakkar
Bhakkar
Bhakkar is the principal city of Bhakkar District, Punjab, Pakistan. It lies on the left bank of the Indus river. It has a population of almost 300,000 and was given status of district in 1981.-Administration:...
. He was a close companion of Amir Mohammad Khan, Governor of West Pakistan
West Pakistan
West Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
. He was also a close friend of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi
Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi
Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi was a politician from Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi founded a political family of Pakistan....
and Ayub Khan (his son is married to Ayub's granddaughter). Rokhri was offered the governorship many times but consistently refused. He was referred to as "Waday Khan Sahib" in Mianwali. He was one of the Pakistan Muslim League
Pakistan Muslim League
The Pakistan Muslim League was founded in 1962, as a successor to the previously disbanded Muslim League in Pakistan. Unlike the original PML which ended in 1958 when General Ayub Khan banned all political parties, each subsequent Muslim League was in some way propped by the military dictators of...
's senior leaders, and worked alongside Quaid-e-Azam.
Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri received the award for Tehrik-i-Pakistan from the then Governor of Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Makhdoom Sajjad Hussain Qureshi. He was awarded a Gold Medal by Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
for being a senior member of the independence movement.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Pakistani Punjab despite the opposition of figures such as Mian Mumtaz Daultana
Mian 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...
, Chief Minister of Punjab.
Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri along with Balakh Sher Mazari
Balakh Sher Mazari
Sardar Mir Balakh Sher Mazari is the Chieftain and the Paramount Sardar of the Mazari tribe, which is situated on the tri-border area of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. As the Chief of Mazaris he holds the title of Mir and also goes by the styles of Tumandar and Sardar. Mir...
, Anwar Noon, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, and Sardar Ahmad Ali resigned from the National Assembly when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
jailed their close friend, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi
Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi
Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi was a politician from Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi founded a political family of Pakistan....
. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was a close friend of the Pir of Pagaro, Makhdoom Hassan Mehmood, Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi, Balakh Sher Mazari
Balakh Sher Mazari
Sardar Mir Balakh Sher Mazari is the Chieftain and the Paramount Sardar of the Mazari tribe, which is situated on the tri-border area of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. As the Chief of Mazaris he holds the title of Mir and also goes by the styles of Tumandar and Sardar. Mir...
, Colonel Abid Hussain and others. The affection the people of Mianwali
Mianwali
Mianwali is the capital city of Mianwali District and situated in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located on the eastern bank of the Indus River...
had for Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was obvious to anyone who attended his funeral. His death was condoled by leaders from every party whereas many leading politicians attended his funeral in his ancestral village of Rokhri including Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is a politician from Pakistan who was the Prime Minister of that country from June 30, 2004 until August 28 2004...
, former Prime Minister, Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shafaat Hussain is the current Nazim of the district of Gujrat, Pakistan. He is the younger brother of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and the son-in-law of the distinguished Pakistani political figure Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri.-References:...
, Zila Nazim Gujrat, Gohar Ayub Khan
Gohar Ayub Khan
Gohar Ayub Khan is a Pakistani politician and a son of the late Pakistani dictator, President General Ayub Khan. A Tareen/Tarin Afghan/Pathan, he was born in village Rehana, Haripur, Hazara region. Khan studied at Army Burn Hall College, Abbottabad, and Saint Mary's Academy, Rawalpindi,...
, former Foreign Minister & Speaker of NA, Syeda Abida Hussain
Syeda Abida Hussain
Syeda Abida Hussain is a Pakistani politician. She is a former National Assembly member from Jhang, Punjab.Hussain is married to Syed Fakhar Imam also prominent Pakistani politician, who was the Speaker of the National Assembly in 1985-86...
, former Federal Minister, and others. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri's political influence was greatest in the district of Mianwali and Bhakkar. The Utra's and Dhandla's of Bhakkar were close political companions of Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri.
Family
Rokhri was the founder of New Khan, the largest transport company in Pakistan. His son Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri controls the company now.He wrote an autobiography Main aur Mera Pakistan.
He leaves behind a son and five daughters. His son Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri is a MPA
Member of Provincial Assembly
A Member of Provincial Assembly or MPA is an elected representative to one of the four provincial assemblies of Pakistan, which are:*The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan*The Provincial Assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa...
and his nephew Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri
Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri
Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri is a Pakistani politician. Throughout his political career, he has been a member of the Provincial Assembly, been elected as an MNA, and then later became the Punjab Revenue, Relief & Consolidations Minister...
, is a former MPA
Member of Provincial Assembly
A Member of Provincial Assembly or MPA is an elected representative to one of the four provincial assemblies of Pakistan, which are:*The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan*The Provincial Assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa...
, MNA
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
and Punjab Revenue, Relief & Consolidations Minister. Gul Hameed Rokhri's son, Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri
Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri
Muhammad Humair Hayat Khan Niazi of Rokhri is a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. He defeated federal minister Dr Sher Afghan Khan Niazi in the 2008 Elections for NA-72 . He had previously served as District Nazim Mianwali from 2001 to 2005...
is also an MNA
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
.