Liaqat Hayat Khan


Khan Bahadur Nawab Sir Liaqat Hyat Khan , was an Indian official who served for most of his career as a minister and later Prime Minister of Patiala State, in British India.

Early life

Sir Liaqat was the son of Nawab Muhammad Hyat Khan, CSI, Khattar, of Wah, and the elder brother of Sir Sikandar Hyat Khan. His son-in-law Shakir Ullah Durrani was the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, while, his granddaughter, Tehmina Durrani, is an author and his great grand son Rohail Hyatt is an acclaimed Pakistani musician.His grand son, Nawab Sadiq Husain Qureshi was the Chief Minister of Punjab during the regime of Mr. Bhutto.

Career

Liaqat Hyat was employed as a police officer in the Imperial Police. His excellent performance was noticed by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala at the Imperial Durbar in 1911 at Delhi. His Highness Patiala invited him to take charge as the Home Minister of the State. In due course, he was appointed Prime Minister of the state. His prowess and deft handling of the socio-political and financial affairs of Patiala were highly appreciated by His Highness. He was knighted by the Imperial government and Maharaja Patiala nominated him as a delegate to represent the Chamber of Princes on behalf of the Patiala State at the Round Table Conferences in London, . Subsequent to his retirement from Patiala in 1938, he was appointed as the Political Advisor to the State of Bhopal After Independence/Partition in August 1947, he moved to Lahore and accepted the post of the new country's ambassador to France. Before he could assume office, he died at Murree in 1948.