Sikandar Hayat Khan (Punjabi politician)
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Sir Sikander Hyat-Khan (died 1942) was an Indian Muslim political leader of Punjab, when India was a part of the British Empire.
Sir Sikander led the Unionist Party, an all-Punjab political party formed to represent the concerns and issues of India's Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. Sir Sikander led his party in the elections under the Government of India Act 1935 held in 1937. He governed the Punjab as Premier in coalition with the Sikh Akali Dal and the Indian National Congress. He was widely respected by Punjabis, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindu communities.
Sir Sikander had opposed the Quit India Movement of 1942 and supported the anti-Axis powers during World War II. Sir Sikander believed in politically cooperating with the British for the independence of India and the unity of Punjab. Sir Sikander is a historic figure of prominence in the pre-partition history of India. He opposed Jinnah and the Pakistan Movement, partly because he foresaw that any future state of Pakistan would result in the partition of Punjab.
Sir Sikander fought for greater Muslim, Hindu and Sikh rights. In 1937, Jinnah signed the Sikander-Jinnah pact in support of the Lahore Resolution, written by Sir Sikander, calling for an independent Pakistan. His death in 1942, historians worldwide agree, created a leadership vacuum for the Punjab, which increased Jinnah's popularity, and resulted in the 1946-47 communal riots. Punjab was partitioned in 1946, creating the Muslim province of West Punjab, which became the most populated province of Pakistan on August 14, 1947. Sir Sikander lies buried at the footsteps of the Badshahi Masjid in Lahore for his contributions to Islam by having restored and revitalized the grand mosque.
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