Abstract
Mian Iftikhar-ud-Din, a well-known leftist and progressive politician from Lahore is a controversial figure in the political history of Pakistan. He launched his career from the platform of the Indian National Congress in mid 1930s. He contested the election of 1937 on the Congress ticket and defeated his rival from the Unionist Party in Qasur provincial constituency. He was given utmost respect by the Congress leaders like Nehru and Gandhi. In fact, he remained Congress’ Parliamentary leader in the Punjab Provincial Legislative Assembly. Due to his leftist and socialist ideas he was in the forefront in establishing Congress Socialist Party. After the start of the Second World War the pattern of politics in the Indian subcontinent has been drastically changed. It was before the 1945-46 election that Mian Iftikhar joined All India Muslim League. He mobilized the Punjabi Muslims against the Unionist Party ministry of Khizar Hayat Khan. After 1947 Mian Iftikhar was made minister for Refugees Rehabilitation in the Punjab Cabinet but due to differences with Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan, he was sidelined and then his League primary membership has been slashed. Consequently, he established his own leftist Azad Pakistan Party in 1951. In this article an attempt has been made to explore his role in the politics of the Punjab in the pre- and post-1947 periods. The focus of the study is to explore the purpose behind the establishment of the Azad Pakistan Party ,which was one of the first progressive and leftist parties in Pakistan. It would be investigated that under what circumstances he was compelled to leave Muslim League and form his own party. Moreover, the role of APP and Mian Iftikhar would be discussed for proper understanding of the trends and direction of the left politics in Pakistan.
Keyword(s)
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