Roedad Khan (28 September 1923 – 21 April 2024) was a Pakistani politician and civil servant. He was a leading figure in Pakistan from the start to the end of the Cold War. During his long career, Khan was one of the most senior civil servants of Pakistan.[2][3][1]
Roedad Khan | |
|---|---|
رؤداد خان | |
 Khan in 2010 | |
| Minister of Accountability | |
| In office 6 August 1990 – 18 April 1993 | |
| President | Ghulam Ishaq Khan |
| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| Secretary General Ministry of Interior | |
| In office 17 August 1988 – 6 August 1990 | |
| President | Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq |
| Prime Minister | Muhammad Junejo |
| Interior Secretary of Pakistan | |
| In office 16 September 1978 – 17 August 1988 | |
| President | Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq |
| Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism | |
| In office 3 August 1973 – 16 September 1978 | |
| President | Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry |
| Prime Minister | Zulfikar Ali Bhutto |
| Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism | |
| In office 25 March 1969 – 20 December 1971 | |
| President | Yahya Khan |
| Pakistan Secretary of Industries and Production | |
| In office 27 October 1958 – 25 March 1969 | |
| President | Muhammad Ayub Khan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 September 1923 Mardan, North-West Frontier Province, British India[1] |
| Died | 21 April 2024 (aged 100) Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Resting place | H-11 Graveyard, Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Nationality |  British Indian(1923–1947)  Pakistani(1947–2024) |
| Residence | Islamabad |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Civil servant[1] |
Khan joined the Civil Services of Pakistan in 1949 and has held several appointments, including those of Chief Secretary Sindh, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Managing Director PTV, Information Secretary of Pakistan, Secretary Ministry of Labour, Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Interior Secretary of Pakistan, Secretary General Ministry of Interior, Federal Minister of Accountability and Adviser to the PM of Pakistan and the President of Pakistan.[1]
Personal life edit
Khan was born in a small village of Mardan, North-West Frontier Province, British India, to an ethnic Pashtun family of the Yusufzai tribe.[4]
Education edit
In 1939, he graduated from local high school and went on to attend Forman Christian College and gained a BA in English Literature in 1942.[4] The atmosphere at the College was liberal, tolerant and progressive.[4]
Respecting his father's wishes, Khan attended the Aligarh Muslim University and gained an MA in English history in 1946.
Upon his return to Mardan, Khan taught history at Islamia College, Peshawar and opted for Pakistani citizenship in 1947.[4]
Later life and death edit
Khan turned 100 on 28 September 2023,[5] and died on 21 April 2024.[6][7][8]
Civil service career edit
In 1949, Khan joined the elite Pakistan Administrative Service, formerly known as DMG, of the Central Superior Services.[4] He started his career in 1951 as the Secretary of Chief Minister of Sindh Provincial Government.
His career was at peak when he served with Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq, responsible for the country's internal security while intelligence efforts were built up to sabotage Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan.[4]
A part of General's Zia policy to enhance the secret establishment, Khan served as its elite member. After the fall of communism, Khan officially retired from Pakistan's politics and civil services and went on to become a political analyst.[4]
Before being appointed the Secretary General, he held the position of Interior Secretary of Pakistan.
Khan went on to become the Secretary General of Pakistan, the highest rank in Pakistani bureaucracy, which could only be achieved after retirement by those who had served at BPS-22 grade, a position no longer in place.
Khan had held major public offices during the regime of President General Zia-ul-Haq and President Ghulam Ishaq Khan.[9] He is also author of three books.
Length of career edit
During his long career, Khan served with five Presidents of Pakistan namely, Muhammad Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
Khan served with three Prime Ministers of Pakistan.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g Herald Exclusive: The whole Roedad (Detailed profile of Roedad Khan) Dawn (newspaper), Published 25 February 2015, Retrieved 1 December 2017
- ^ Khan, Aurangzaib (25 February 2015). "Herald Exclusive: The whole Roedad". DAWN.COM.
- ^ Reeves, Philip (25 March 2009). "In Pakistan, A Government Official-Turned-Protester". National Public Radio (U.S. Radio website). Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hassan Ansari, PAF, Colonel Athar (December 1998). "Pakistan – A dream gone sour". Colonel Athar Hassan Ansari, Director of Air War college. Oxford University Press 1997. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ Qazi, Ashraf Jehangir (29 September 2023). "A patriot turns 100". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ Ex-bureaucrat Roedad Khan passes away at 101
- ^ Desk, Web (21 April 2024). "Roedad Khan passes away at 100". Aaj English TV. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan's former bureaucrat Roedad Khan died at the age of 100". UNewsTv. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Sarwar, Zafar Alam (23 April 2011). "Unite with revolutionary spirit". Pakistan Observer. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
Bibliography edit
- Khan, Roedad. Pakistan, a Dream Gone Sour. Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2011.