Malik Tariq Ali
Malik Barkat Ali’s association with Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam started in 1915 at annual session held in Bombay where 71-member committee was formed comprising Quaid, Agha Khan, Raja Mehmoodabad, Malik Barkat Ali, AK Fazal-ul-Haq and others.
Malik Barkat Ali actively participated in political struggle for a modern Muslim welfare state where the people could live in peace. Unfortunately, he died of cardiac failure on April 5, 1946, a year before Pakistan was created.
At a special session of AIML held in 1946 attended by 470 elected Muslim members, Quaid paid him glowing tributes. ‘I am deeply grieved to hear the sad news of the sudden death of Malik Barkat Ali. He was a true and loyal member of the Muslim League from the very beginning, and on all occasions, he rendered the greatest service to Muslim India. His advice and staunch support on all occasions was of greatest value to the League and myself. Muslim India has lost in him a great man, and I have lost in him not only a colleague, a collaborator, but also a great friend. My deepest sympathies go out to his family in their bereavement for their irreparable loss’.
Quaid’s trust and faith in Malik Barkat Ali can be gauged from an event narrated in book “Plain Mr Jinnah” written by Syed Shamsul Hassan, Secretary of AIML, based on personal papers and documents of Quaid, with instructions to reveal these sensitive documents ten years after his death. On July 23, 1944 the unionist led Punjab government under instruction of the governor issued notices to Mohd Ali Jinnah for acquisition of his Bungalow No 53 located in Lahore Cantonment under Defense of India Act to prevent him from active participation in affairs of Punjab Muslim League. The book contains letter written by MAJ seeking legal advice of Malik Barkat Ali on this personal matter.
On June 19, 1930, Malik Barkat Ali (MBA) and Allama Iqbal jointly sponsored resolution with Gokal Chand and Nanak in Lahore High Court Bar condemning unfair trial of Bhagat Singh.
Allama Iqbal campaigned for Malik Barkat Ali’s election in January 1937 on Muslim League ticket from eastern districts of Jullundur, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Kasur etc when Punjab was ruled by Sikandar Hayat-led coalition government which included Hindus and Sikhs. He was again re-elected unopposed in 1945-46 elections, when AIML won 453 of 524 Muslim seats, bagging 90pc of seats in Punjab, sealing the destiny and fate of our independence in 1947. In 1937 elections only two Muslim Leaguers Malik Barkat Ali and Raja Ghazanfar were elected, but later defected to Unionist and for eight years MBA alone represented League in Punjab Legislature.
MBA started his career in 1905 as Assistant Professor in English at FC College Lahore after doing his MA, followed by a brief stint in government service as Treasury Officer, from which he resigned in January 1914 and started working as editor of weekly Observer in April. Events in Turkey after WW, followed by clampdown on Muslims by Raj had an impact on Punjab politics. He came in contact with Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam and his writings in support of Muslims irked Punjab Governor O’Dwyer who on June 18, 1918 imposed a ban till such time he was editor. The proprietors chose to cease publication. Having completed his LLB in 1916, Barkat Ali joined legal profession as lawyer in January 1920 and was now actively involved in politics.
