Book Name: Muslim League in N.W.F.P.,
Written by: Syed Waqar Ali Shah,
Published by: Royal Book Company Karachi, 1992, Pages 201
Amar Jahangir
Lecturer
Women University Bagh;
Muslim League in N.W.F.P. is written by Prof. Dr. Syed Waqar Ali Shah. It is an effort to review the political accomplishments of Muslim League in North West Frontier Province. The author used more than one sources of information and continues his investigation by heaving reached other authors and eye witnesses in order to provide accurate information as well as to avoid the element of partiality. He provided end notes of each chapter for authenticity and originality of this work.
Being the author of Muslim League in N.W.F.P. Dr. Shah needs no detail introduction. Dr. Shah is the author of number of books. He is the Professor of History, Dean faculty of Social Sciences and acting vice chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. He has spent most time and efforts to explore the history and politics of N.W.F.P. The book under review is a very influential, informative and comprehensive account of the activities of the politics of North West Frontier. This book begins with an introduction that explore the initial history, social, political and constitutional movements, activities and reforms of N.W.F.P. for readers.
Chapter one, the author discusses the rise of Muslim League in the Frontier. He highlights the Quaid-i-Azam’s first visit to frontier and the election of 1937. He further explores the formation of Muslim League in N.W.F.P. and by-elections with their impacts on the politics of N.W.F.P.
The chapter two ‘Frontier Contingent and Lahore Resolution____March 1940’ evaluates the role of N.W.F.P. in Lahore Resolution. The author writes, the delegates and the volunteers of various branches of Muslim League from Peshawar, D. I. Khan, Kohat, Bannu and Charsada had gathered which were more than three hundred and moved for Lahore under the supervision of Agha Syed Lal Badshah. He also tells that Sardar Aurangzeb Khan seconded the resolution of Pakistan from Peshawar.
In the chapter three, ‘Transfer of Power from Congress to Muslim League in Frontier’ an attempt to explore the causes and facts which help the process of transformation of power from Congress to League in N.W.F.P. It also highlights the Quaid-i-Azam’s second visit to frontier and its impacts on Frontier’s politics.
‘The Last Phase-I’, the fourth chapter presents a full fledge process of the elections of 1945-46. It also discusses the cabinet mission plans and reorganization of Muslim League in N.W.F.P. This chapter highlights the aggressive behavior of the people of N.W.F.P. on the visit of Pandit Nehru to Frontier.
The last chapter, ‘The Last Phase-II’, describes the civil disobedience movement, role of women and their agitation, role of Muslim Students Federation of Sarhad in N.W.F.P. It also covers the Mountbatten’s visit to Frontiers and removal of Olaf Caroe from Governorship and referendum in N.W.F.P.
This book concludes itself with the valuable and calculated words. Dr. Shah has strong writing and explanatory power which few other writers match. He is a good historian and thinker as well. Muslim League in N.W.F.P. is a master piece which is informative and authentic source of learning for researchers. The strength of this work is exploring the arena of political history of N.W.F.P.
This book is a remarkable achievement that utilized the primary sources mostly. Overall, delivers an intellectual reading experience. This work reflexes the author’s keen interest and experience. This book is very fruitful and has a good value for historian and those who has keen interest of learning. This book must read the historians and researchers.
