Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri
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Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri (10 June 1916-2 December 2001) was a politician and was involved in the Pakistan Movement.
Khan Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri belonged to the Niazi tribe in Rokhri, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan and also had roots in Samand Khel. He was also known as Khan Sahab a title given by the British to him and to his father. They became the first father and son to have been awarded the title.
Activism
As a member of the independence movement, Rokhri was jailed by the British because he removed the Union Jack from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Mianwali District. He also participated in the Kashmir freedom struggle in 1948, his brother Habib Ullah Khan Rokhri fell martyr fighting in Kashmir.
Career
After the foundation of Pakistan, he became the first Chairman of the District Council of Mianwali. In Pakistan Rokhri was a senator and won seats not only from Mianwali but also from other areas such as Bhakkar. He served as Senator for twelve years from 1985 to 1997 before retiring from politics. He was a close companion of Amir Mohammad Khan, Governor of West Pakistan. He was also a close friend of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi and Ayub Khan (his son is married to Ayub's granddaughter). Rokhri was offered the governorship many times but consistently refused. He was referred to as "Waday Khan Sahib" in Mianwali. He was one of the Pakistan Muslim League's senior leaders, and worked alongside Quaid-e-Azam.
Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri received the award for Tehrik-i-Pakistan from the then Governor of Punjab, Makhdoom Sajjad Hussain Qureshi. He was awarded a Gold Medal by Nawaz Sharif for being a senior member of the independence movement.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Pakistani Punjab despite the opposition of figures such as Mian Mumtaz Daultana, Chief Minister of Punjab. He was also elected to the National Assembly in 1977 from the Pakistan People's Party ticket.
Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri along with Balakh Sher Mazari, Anwar Noon, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, and Sardar Ahmad Ali resigned from the National Assembly when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto jailed their close friend, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi. Amir Abdullah Khan Rokhri was a close friend of the Pir of Pagaro, Makhdoom Hassan Mehmood, Maulana Abdus Sattar Niazi, and of Balakh Sher Mazari.
Family
Rokhri was the founder of New Khan, the largest transport company in Pakistan. His son Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri controls the company now.
He wrote an autobiography Main aur Mera Pakistan.
He leaves behind a son, five daughters. Members of his immediate family still trying to be a part of Mianwali politics. His son Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri is a MPA and his nephew Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri, is a former MPA, MNA and Punjab Revenue, Relief & Consolidations Minister. Gul Hameed Rokhri's son, Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri is also an MNA.