Sikander Hyat Khan
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Sikander Hyat Khan was an Indian Muslim political leader in the province
of Punjab, when India was a part of the British Empire. He was the
leader of the Unionist Party, an all-Punjab political party formed to
represent the concerns and issues of India's Muslims, however opposed to
the political separatism and demand for Pakistan of the All India
Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Khan led his party in the
elections under the Government of India Act 1935 held in 1937. He
governed the Punjab as Chief Minister in coalition with the Sikh Akali
Dal and the Indian National Congress.
He was widely respected by Punjab's Sikhs and Hindu
communities. Khan had opposed the Quit India Movement of 1942 and backed
the British during World War II. While politically cooperating with the
British, Khan never gave up his desire for the independence of India
and the unity of Punjab. Khan was a very popular Punjabi leader who
fought for greater Muslim rights and representation while opposing
Jinnah's demands for Pakistan. His death in 1942, historians agree,
created a vacuum of leadership for Punjab's Muslims, which increased the
popularity of Jinnah, and resulted in the 1946-47 communal violence
that killed thousands of people. Punjab was partitioned in 1946,
creating the heavily Muslim province of West Punjab, which became the
largest and most populated province of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.
However, Khan still remains a respected figure in both India and
Pakistan.