Malik Barkat Ali

Early life and career Malik Barkat Ali was born on 1 April 1885 in Lahore, Punjab, British India, into a middle-class Pashtun-Kakazai family. Following his early education at a local high school located at the Delhi Gate, he won a scholarship to the famous Forman Christian College, in Lahore. He secured the first position in Physics for the BA examination but for his MSc degree he chose another subject, English. and also edited The Observer, an English daily newspaper from 1914 – 1918. This position of newspaper editor gained him prominence in Punjab politics. He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1937 for the Muslim League and alone represented the League in opposing the Unionist Party (Punjab) for 7 years in the assembly. Barkat Ali also served as a secretary of the Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam for some time.

Legal career

Bhagat Singh trial In 1929, when Bhagat Singh was tried in Lahore, Allama Iqbal, Malik Barkat Ali, Nanka Chand and Norang jointly moved a resolution in the Lahore High Court's Bar condemning this trial. Malik Barkat Ali was a vigorous supporter of Allama Iqbal until Iqbal's death in 1938.

Family in politics Ahad Malik, one of his nephews, became MPA 2002-2007 in Punjab Assembly, Pakistan. His other nephew, Akhter Malik, became MNA in National Assembly of Pakistan.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah's tribune At a Special Session of the Muslim League held in 1946, the Quaid-i-Azam paid tribute to Malik Barkat Ali by saying:

Commemorative postage stamp In 1990, Pakistan Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honour in its 'Pioneers of Freedom' series.