Forum Pakistan

Ali, Malik Barkat (1886-1946)
Statesman. Educated at Forman Christian College, Lahore, and obtaining his LLB (Punjab University) in 1916, Malik BarkatAli was to become a member of Sir Fazle *Husain's Progressive Muslim League and a delegate to the All Parties Convention in 1928. When the *AlI-India Muslim League was reorganized, he became its Vice-President.

Malik Barkat Ali was one of only two candidates (along with Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan) to be returned on the *Muslim League ticket to the Punjab Legislative Assembly, and the only one not to cross benches. He co-drafted the Jinnah-Sikander Pact, but differed sharply with Sir Sikander *Hayat's interpretation of the document. He asked the speaker of the Punjab Assembly to allot him a seat separate from the *Unionist Party benches, since he did not feel that the Unionists and AIML were one party (4 November 1940).

He remained the mainstay of the All-India Muslim League in *Punjab throughout the Unionist term of office. In 1946, he was elected for the Eastern Town Committee, but died soon after.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Mohammad Rafique Ajzal (ed.), 'Malik Barkat Ali: His Life and Writings', Lahore, 1969; Ashique Husain Batalvi, 'Hamari Qaumi Jidd 0 Jahad January 1940 Sey December 1942 Tak', Lahore, 1974.