FalconsForPeace
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BHOPAL: Pakistan's ex-foreign secretary Shahryar Khan has said his country's political and military class let down his mother, Abida Sultaan, who was the heir apparent to the erstwhile Bhopal state, after she migrated to that country in 1949.
"My mother went to Pakistan to follow its founding father Mohammed Ali Jinnah's ideology and felt military dictatorship was not part of that," said Khan, who was in Bhopal on a private visit. Khan said his success though vindicated her decision to migrate.
He said Pakistan was supposed to be a liberal, democratic society, based on 'middle Islam and not extremist Islam' of any kind. "Jinnah's message was for a tolerant state where Hindus could go to temples and Christians to churches."
Abida Sultaan was one of the three daughters of Bhopal's last ruler, Nawab Hamidullah Khan. Her sister, Sajida Sultan, who was cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's mother, became the custodian of the princely state after her migration to Pakistan.
He said women in Bhopal have a great tradition of being assertive about their rights. "Bhopal state stands out, especially as it was ruled by Muslim women (for 106 years)," said Khan, who left Bhopal when he was 14.
Our rulers let my mother down: Pakistan's ex-foreign secretary - The Times of India
"My mother went to Pakistan to follow its founding father Mohammed Ali Jinnah's ideology and felt military dictatorship was not part of that," said Khan, who was in Bhopal on a private visit. Khan said his success though vindicated her decision to migrate.
He said Pakistan was supposed to be a liberal, democratic society, based on 'middle Islam and not extremist Islam' of any kind. "Jinnah's message was for a tolerant state where Hindus could go to temples and Christians to churches."
Abida Sultaan was one of the three daughters of Bhopal's last ruler, Nawab Hamidullah Khan. Her sister, Sajida Sultan, who was cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's mother, became the custodian of the princely state after her migration to Pakistan.
He said women in Bhopal have a great tradition of being assertive about their rights. "Bhopal state stands out, especially as it was ruled by Muslim women (for 106 years)," said Khan, who left Bhopal when he was 14.
Our rulers let my mother down: Pakistan's ex-foreign secretary - The Times of India
