Khan Muhammad Khan

Colonel Khan Muhammad Khan (Urdu: کرنل خان محمد خان) was a prominent Sudhan soldier and politician in Poonch, serving in the Legislative Assembly (Praja Sabha ) of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir until 1947. Later he served as the Chairman of the War Council during the 1947 Poonch Rebellion (regarded as the "War of Independence" by the Sudhan Poonchis).

Early life and career Khan Muhammad Khan was born in 1882, in a village called Chhachhan (now Khan Abad) in the Sudhanoti tehsil of the Poonch jagir to an elite Sudhan family. After learning Quran at home, he went to school in Kahuta (Rawalpindi district) at age 10. After the completion of primary school, he joined the British Indian Army in 1902.

Khan participated in World War I, receiving the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM).

He organized a meeting of the women of the region at Dhar Drach, a village near Pallandri. Under this funding scheme, a handful of each family's flour was collected on a weekly basis and used to fund projects such as the constructions of the (Jamia Mosque) and the Darul Allum Madrassa at Pallandri which was serving as a school of religious education in the region.

After the successful completion of the Jamia Masjid and the Darul Alum he extended the educational campaign Soon Khan Sahib succeed in forming the committee of notables to work for the promotion of education in the region, In order to promote the educational trends amongst the new generation, the members of the committee visited the different villages, Khan's record reflects that the serving soldiers and junior officers of the Poonch jagir region the British-Indian Army had also financially supported his educational campaign. He did not only focus his devotion on the promotion of education amongst boys but also took a keen interest in the education of girls and established the girls-school at Cheh Chann near Pallandri on 17 November 1939.

Under this movement, various independent schools were established in the different parts of the Poonch region where teachers rendered their services on the volunteer basis. A source claimed that a gentlemen known as Sardar Shah Wali Khan had established a private school at Patola (Tain), a remote area on the North-west part of Poonch jagir in 1935 where he taught on volunteer basis until the school was taken over by State Government in its ownership in 1945. Regarding the promotion of educational, this movement lasted very positive impact on the entire region. That is why; the educational ratio in the Poonch region has remained higher than the rest of districts in Azad Kashmir. For the economic, social and infrastructural development of the region. Khan adopted a strategy to promote the working relations between the Government and society.

History Khan first entered politics with his election to the seat of Tehsil Bagh and Sudhnati in the first elections of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, held in 1934. His political rival, Ch. Khan Bahadar Khan Bhango, received less than 1000 votes and consequently lost his security deposit.

Khan was returned to the Tehsil Bagh and Sudhnoti seat in subsequent Legislative Assembly elections until 1946, when he stepped aside voluntarily in favour of Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, who later became the first president of Azad Kashmir.

In 1947 he became Chairman of the War Council during the Poonch Rebellion, and later became a Member of the Defence Council. He also organised 60,000 ex-servicemen from the Sudhan tribe to fight against Dogra rule in Poonch.

1st Azad Kashmir Battalion was officially raised at Kotli on 28 November by Sub Major (Shaheed Caption) Muhammad Hussain Khan. Its raising day was back dated to 6 October 1947 by Chairman War Council Khan Sahib Col Khan Muhammad Khan and the Unit moved towards Jhangar the same night.

During the tour of State Maharaja Hari Singh, the rule, arrived at Rawlakot, in the heartland of Muslim Sudhun tribe, on 21 April 1947. He was somewhat alarmed to see over 40 thousand ex-service men of British Indian Army gathered to receive him. This gathering was organized by Khan Sahib Col Khan Muhammad Khan, a respected and eminent member of warrior Sudhun tribe. On return to his Capital the Maharaja moved here Jammu and Kashmir infantry battalion (1st, 8th & 9th) to Poonch under newly raised J&K Poonch Battalion.

Awards and honours

For his commitment and selfless service to the people of Kashmir, he was given title of Khansahib on 11 June 1942 Awarded by Viceroy & Governor-General of India on behalf of the British Government, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government awarded him the honorary titles of Baba-e-Poonch and Gazi-e-Kashmir.

Every year on 11 November, the anniversary of his death in 1961, thousands of people gather and pay homage at his tomb in Pallandri. His son Col M.Naqi Khan remained Advisor to Prime Minister AJK, Member of Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Minister For Health & Food in AJK Government. After Col Naqi Khan's death, his son and Khan Sahib's grandson Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan also joined politics and has been elected five times as Member of Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly, once remained member of Kashmir Council and is former Health & Finance Minister AJK.