Letter to M.A. Jinnah Regarding Political Negotiations in Punjab

Sub title : Efforts to Secure Sir Khizr Hayat Khan's Alignment with the Muslim League

Subject: Punjab Politics | Muslim League Expansion | Sir Khizr Hayat Khan | Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan

Date of publication: 1947

Language: English

Page: 1 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 27517

Keyword: M.A. Jinnah — Ahmadiyya Movement | Sir Khizr Hayat Khan — Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan | Punjab Politics — Muslim League — 1947 — Partition | Political Negotiations — NWFP

Abstract: This confidential letter from the Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement to M.A. Jinnah, written on March 2, 1947, reveals behind-the-scenes political negotiations to bring Sir Khizr Hayat Khan, the Premier of Punjab, into the Muslim League fold. The author reports that Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan successfully persuaded Sir Khizr to resign and join the League following the British Government's new political declaration. The letter expresses hope that this development will provide significant leverage for securing Muslim rights and mentions ongoing efforts to address the political situation in the North-West Frontier Province. The correspondence highlights the crucial political realignments occurring in the months leading up to Partition.

Description: This significant historical document captures a critical moment in the final phase of the Pakistan movement, revealing the intricate political maneuvering that characterized the months before Partition. The letter demonstrates the active role played by religious leadership in political negotiations and the importance of personal diplomacy in securing key political alignments. The involvement of Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, a prominent Ahmadi leader and important Muslim League figure, in persuading Sir Khizr Hayat Khan to join the League underscores the complex network of relationships that shaped pre-Partition politics. Written during a train journey, the letter conveys both urgency and confidentiality, reflecting the tense political atmosphere of early 1947. The document provides valuable insight into the efforts to consolidate Muslim political strength in Punjab, which was crucial for the successful creation of Pakistan. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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