1 week Ago By Atle Hetland
It is unfortunate that our history has been deliberately distorted to undermine Jinnah’s vision of a modern, democratic Pakistan. Malik Barkat Ali passed away on April 5, 1946—just before the independence he had devoted his life to achieving under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He remained a close associate of both leaders throughout his life.
Upon his death, Jinnah paid a heartfelt tribute, calling him “a true and loyal member of the Muslim League,” praising his support, advice, and unwavering service to Muslim India. The Muslim League’s foundations were laid in 1906 in Dacca. Over the next several years, the League evolved through key events—from its 1908 session in Amritsar to the adoption of separate electorates in 1909 and the constitutional reforms of 1913.
Jinnah himself joined the League in October 1913, later becoming a central figure in its transformation. Shots Fired In the 1937 elections, Malik Barkat Ali was elected on a League ticket in Punjab. When his fellow League candidate defected to the Unionist Party, Barkat Ali remained the sole representative of the League in the Punjab Legislature—a testament to his integrity.
He was re-elected in the 1945-46 elections. His opposition to the Unionist Party and his dedication to the Muslim cause remain under-recognised. After the death of Mian Fazl-e-Hussain in 1936, British interference in Punjab politics worsened.
Yet Barkat Ali remained steadfast. The tragedy of our history is not just in forgotten heroes, but in the erasure of crucial records. Documents handed over to Syed Shamsul Hassan by Jinnah in August 1947 were later destroyed by the military regime in 1958.
What little survived was published in Plain Mr. Jinnah, which remains an essential read for those who seek the truth. Pakistan’s younger generations must be educated about pioneers like Malik Barkat Ali, Haji Abdullah Haroon, Sardar Nishtar, Nawab Ismail, and others who laid the foundation for this country.
In India today, Muslim minorities face threats and mob violence. Jinnah foresaw this and fought to secure a safe homeland. It is time we honour his legacy by remembering those who stood by him.
Heatwave Incoming MALIK TARIQ ALI, Lahore. Tags: tribute malik barkat ali.
