Correspondence and Telegrams between M.A. Jinnah and Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan

Sub title : The Struggle for Muslim League Authority in Punjab

Subject: All India Muslim League | Punjab Politics | Jinnah-Sikandar Relations | Working Committee

Date of publication: 1939

Language: English

Page: 62 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 27667

Keyword: M.A. Jinnah -- Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan -- Muslim League -- Punjab | Unionist Party -- Working Committee | World War II | Federation -- Party Discipline -- Jinnah-Sikandar Pact

Abstract: A extensive collection of telegrams and letters that chronicles the complex and often fraught relationship between M.A. Jinnah, the all-India leader of the Muslim League, and Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, the powerful Premier of Punjab. The correspondence reveals persistent tensions over Sikandar's tendency to issue public statements on national issues (like Federation and War policy) without prior consultation with Jinnah, leading to direct reprimands. It also covers their collaboration during the critical early years of World War II, where Sikandar publicly acknowledged Jinnah as his "Qaid-e-Azam." The documents showcase Jinnah's constant struggle to assert central League authority over the powerful, and sometimes independently-minded, Punjab wing of the party, a dynamic critical to the success of the Pakistan movement.

Description: This collection provides an invaluable and detailed record of one of the most critical political relationships in the history of the Pakistan Movement. The documents move from logistical telegrams to profound political disagreements. They capture Jinnah's firm but diplomatic leadership style as he repeatedly checks Sikandar's unilateral moves, while also acknowledging his importance and loyalty. The exchange concerning Sikandar's offer to resign from the Working Committee and Jinnah's subsequent acceptance is particularly telling of the underlying tensions. This correspondence is essential for understanding the immense challenge Jinnah faced in unifying diverse and powerful provincial leaders under the singular banner of the All India Muslim League and steering a coherent national strategy for the creation of Pakistan. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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