Zafar Ali Khan

Zafar was born into a Punjabi Jat family of the Janjua clan[6] in Sialkot, British India. He received his early education at Mission High School, Wazirabad, Wazirabad District,[7] matriculated (10th grade) from Patiala, and passed his intermediate (12th grade) from the Aligarh College. Next, he worked in the postal department of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the same place where his father worked, but resigned over a row with his seniors.[7][8] He rejoined Aligarh College and gained his BA degree from there; stood fifth in his batch.[8]

After graduation, Khan was appointed secretary to a Muslim political leader Mohsin-ul-Mulk, then in Bombay. Then he worked for some time as a translator in Hyderabad, Deccan, rising to the post of Secretary, Home Department. He returned from Hyderabad and launched his daily Zamindar newspaper from Lahore , founded by his father Maulvi Sirajuddin Ahmad.[8][9]

Relation with the Ahmadiyya Movement

Zafar Ali Khan's relationship with the Qadiani movement was belligerent. He was among the vanguard, who censured Mirza Ghulam Qadiani for writing poems mocking him. He even wrote the preface to the book "His Holiness", which was written as a refutation of the Qadiani movement.[10] Later on, when Pakistan was created he was an ardent participant of the 1953 Tehreek e Khatm e Nabuwat (a movement against the Qadianis), writing fervorous articles against them.

Poetry

He chose to write in Urdu. Khan's interest in poetry began in his childhood. His poems have religious and political sentiments.[4] He was especially versed in impromptu compositions. His poetical output includes Baharistan, Nigaristan, and Chamanistan. His other works are Marka-e-Mazhab-o-Science, Ghalba-e-Rum, Sayr-e-Zulmet and an opera Jang-e-Roos-o-Japan.[11]

He died on 27 November 1956, in Wazirabad, Punjab. His funeral prayer was led by his companion Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi.[2]

The Founder with Maulana Zafar Ali Khan in Badshahi Mosque

Sahiwal Stadium, а multi-purpose stadium in Sahiwal, Punjab, was renamed as Zafar Ali Stadium in his honour. It is used for football and cricket games. The stadium holds 10,000 people.

He served the Pakistan Movement and was an outspoken activist against British rule. Recognising Zafar Ali Khan's contributions to the Pakistan Movement, the Punjab government in Pakistan established a 'Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Trust' that initiated the 'Zafar Ali Khan Award' for outstanding journalists to be awarded every year.[14] A public degree college in Wazirabad is named after him as Government Molana Zafar Ali Khan Degree College.

Pakistan Post issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor in its 'Pioneers of Freedom' series.[1]

Some of his notable publications include:

Wikiquote has quotations related to Zafar Ali Khan.

• List of Pakistani journalists
• List of people on the postage stamps of Pakistan

Quaid-e-Azam with Maulana Zafar Ali Khan

Maulana would never miss a chance to snub the British government and the Heavens had provided him ample opportunities to carry out his sacred mission. Shaheed Ghazi Ilam Din had killed a blasphemous person and was sent to gallows in the Mianwali jail. The government buried him in Mianwali which infuriated the Muslims in Punjab. They protested and made a unanimous demand to bring Shaeed's body to Lahore but no one was prepared to give coverage to their voice as Hindus dominated most of the newspapers in the old Punjab before 1947. A large procession led by Lal Din Qaiser reached the office of Zamindar in 1903 newspaper which was the only hope for the Muslims at that time and succeeded in getting newspaper coverage for their event.