Correspondence from Sardar Bahadur Khan to M.A. Jinnah

Sub title : On INA Prisoners, Constituent Assembly, and Post-Partition Integration

Subject: Indian National Army (INA) | Constituent Assembly of Pakistan | Integration of Princely States

Date of publication: 1945

Language: English

Page: 14 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 27663

Keyword: M.A. Jinnah -- Sardar Bahadur Khan -- Indian National Army (INA) -- Haripur Jail | Constituent Assembly -- Nawab of Amb -- Princely State Integration -- Post-Partition Administration -- Hazara District

Abstract: A comprehensive collection of letters from Sardar Bahadur Khan, a Muslim League M.L.A. from Hazara, to M.A. Jinnah, spanning the crucial period from 1945 to 1947. The correspondence begins with a 1945 appeal to secure the release of INA officers imprisoned in the Haripur Jail, presenting it as a moral imperative for the Muslim League upon joining the interim government. After Partition, the focus shifts to the governance of the new state, including a detailed note on integrating the princely state of Amb (Upper Tanawal) into Pakistan and resisting any special status for the Nawab. Other letters discuss the composition of the Constituent Assembly, political strategy for Punjab, and the importance of Jinnah's continued leadership, often expressing concern about the influence of certain groups and individuals.

Description: This collection provides a fascinating glimpse into the transition of a Muslim League politician from the anti-colonial struggle to the responsibilities of governing a new nation. The early letters show the political calculations around popular issues like the INA, while the post-1947 correspondence reveals the immediate practical challenges of state-building, such as integrating semi-autonomous regions. Sardar Bahadur Khan's letters are those of a loyalist and a regional representative, keen to advise the central leadership on provincial sentiments and secure the interests of his constituency. The documents collectively highlight the vast range of issues--from high political strategy to local administrative disputes--that demanded M.A. Jinnah's attention as the Governor-General of Pakistan. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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