Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri

Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri (10th June 1916-2nd December 2001) was a politician and was involved in the Pakistan Movement.

Khan Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri belonged to the Niazi tribe in Rokhri, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan and also had roots in Samand Khel. He was also known as "Khan Sahab" a title given by the British to him and to his father. They became the first father and son to have been awarded the title.

Activism

Rokhri was a member of the independence movement, he was jailed by the British because he removed the Union Flag from the Mianwali District Headquarters. He also participated in the Kashmir freedom struggle in 1948, his brother Habib Ullah Khan Rokhri died fighting.

Career

After the foundation of Pakistan, he became the first Chairman of the District Council of Mianwali. In Pakistan Rokhri was a senator and won seats not only from Mianwali but also from other areas such as Bhakkar. He served as Senator for twelve years from 1985 to 1997 before retiring from politics. He was a close companion of Amir Mohammad Khan, Governor of West Pakistan. He was also a close friend of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi and Ayub Khan (his son is married to Ayub's granddaughter). Rokhri was offered the governorship many times but consistently refused. He was referred to as "Waday Khan Sahib" in Mianwali. He was one of the Pakistan Muslim League's senior leaders, and worked alongside Quaid-e-Azam.

Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri received the award for Tehrik-i-Pakistan from the then Governor of Punjab, Makhdoom Sajjad Hussain Qureshi. He was awarded a Gold Medal by Nawaz Sharif for being a senior member of the independence movement.

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Pakistani Punjab despite the opposition of figures such as Mian Mumtaz Daultana, Chief Minister of Punjab. He was also elected to the National Assembly in 1977 from the Pakistan People's Party ticket.

Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri along with Balakh Sher Mazari, Anwar Noon, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, and Sardar Ahmad Ali resigned from the National Assembly when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto jailed their close friend, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was a close friend of the Pir of Pagaro, Makhdoom Hassan Mehmood, Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi, and of Balakh Sher Mazari.

Family

Khan Sahab Rokhri was the founder of New Khan, the largest transport company in Pakistan. His son Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri controls the company now.

He wrote an autobiography "Main aur Mera Pakistan".

He leaves behind a son, five daughters and 19 grandchildren. Members of his immediate family continue to hold roles in Mianwali politics. His son Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri is an MPA and his nephew Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri, is a former Punjab Revenue, Relief & Consolidations Minister. Gul Hameed Rokhri's son, Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri is also a sitting Member of National Assembly and in the 2008 elections he had defeated former Federal Minister, Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi.

External links

[http://www.senate.gov.pk/ShowMemberDetail.asp?MemberCode=520&CatCode=0&CatName= Amir Abdullah Khan Rokri - Senate of Pakistan]