Correspondence between M.A. Jinnah and S. Sadiq Hasan on Punjab Muslim League Politics (1940-1943)

Sub title : Navigating Factionalism and Preserving Unity

Subject: Jinnah-Sikandar Relations | Muslim League Unity | Provincial Factionalism

Date of publication: 1940

Language: English

Page: 3 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 27594

Keyword: M.A. Jinnah | S. Sadiq Hasan — Punjab Muslim League — Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan — Jinnah-Sikandar Relations | Muslim League Unity — War Board Committees | Malik Barkat Ali — Provincial Politics — Muslim Solidarity.

Abstract: This collection features correspondence between S. Sadiq Hasan, a Muslim League MLA from Amritsar, and M.A. Jinnah between 1940-1943. In his detailed 1940 letter, Hasan identifies himself as a "genuine Muslim-leaguer" who complied with Jinnah's directive to resign from War Board Committees. He expresses grave concern about the potential departure of Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan from the Punjab Muslim League, warning that this would reduce League members to an "insignificant minority" in the Assembly. Hasan cautions against punitive measures advocated by Malik Barkat Ali, arguing they would cause disruption, and appeals to Jinnah's statesmanship to effect a compromise that preserves Muslim solidarity.

Description: Correspondence provides valuable insight into the complex internal dynamics of the Punjab Muslim League during the early 1940s. S. Sadiq Hasan's letter reveals the fragile nature of Muslim League strength in Punjab, where many rural members had little connection to organized politics beyond local landowner interests. His warning about Sikandar Hyat Khan's potential departure highlights the strategic importance of maintaining the alliance between Jinnah and Sikandar, which was crucial for the League's claim to represent Punjab's Muslims. The correspondence demonstrates the challenges Jinnah faced in balancing the demands of ideological purists like Malik Barkat Ali with the practical realities of provincial politics. Hasan emerges as a pragmatic voice advocating for compromise over confrontation, recognizing that political strength in Punjab required accommodating various Muslim factions. Jinnah's measured response, while brief, reflects his careful approach to managing provincial tensions while keeping the broader interests of Muslim India in focus. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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