N.W.F.P AND THE KHILAFAT MOVEMENT

In the World war-1, when the Turkey joined Germany against the British and her allies, the Muslims of the sub-continent were turned into an awkward position, because they had great regard for the Khilafat of Turkey. They could not tolerate Turkey to be disintegrated. This was the fact that just on the out break of war, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jouhar and doctor Mukhtar Ahmad through their personal efforts and relation with Ghazi Anwar Pasha war Minister of Turkey had strived their best that Turkey should keep herself aloof from the war. However in November 1914, when Turkey announced her joining the war in favour of Germany a complete revolution began throughout the sub-continent. The British government was aware of the sentiments of the Muslims in India. In order to pacify the intensive process of resentment, it was announced by the Government that the British had no intention of depriving Turkey of its territorial and other justified rights.

The Muslims of sub-continent joined world war-1 as British Supporter on the provision that they would not hurt the Turkish empire and Khilafat because the Turkish Khilafat was the symbol of whole Muslim Ummah (caste). But when the war came to an end, the British government could not keep her promise and adopted an vexing attitude towards the Muslims. Turkey was compelled to sign the humiliated treaty of "Service" in 1920, its territories were annexed with European countries. In these circumstance the hearts of the Muslims of sub-continent palpitated. Although, Maulana Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali were under British custody, at the end of war, Maulana Abdul Bari, Doctor Ansari and Hakim Ajmal Khan founded the Khilafat Movement in November 1919 at Lakhnu.

In the first session of Khilafat Movement it was demanded from the British that the Khilafat of Turkey should be restored filtration of all sacred places of Muslims should be stopped and no compensation of war should be granted from her. At the same time the Hindus also started "No Co-operation Movement" against the British rule. As both the movements had a similar goal of driving out hte British from India they joined hand togather.

The freedom loving Pathans deeply effected from the Khilafat Movement. They performed active role in the movement and prayed of succession of Turkey. They collected huge donation and dispatched a medical deputation for the help and medical treatment of their Turkish brothers. They completely condemned the ill treatment of British towards the Turkish Empire and demanded the restoration of her old status. The flames of Khilafat Movement spread fast in all corners of N.W.F.P. The Khilafat committees were founded in all big cities and towns of the province. The Provincial Khilfat committee of N.W.F.P was comprising of Haji Jan Muhammad, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor and Mirza Muhammad Salim Khan. Subsequently, at Mardan, Maulana Muhammad Shah "Peshawar" Mian Jaffar Shah "Charsadda" Mr. Akbar Khan umarzai "Nowdhera" Maulvi Abdul Rauf "Hazara" Muhammad Ishaq and Muhammad Irfan "Kohat" Ahmad Gul " Bannu" Muhammad Jan Khan, Khuda Bakhsh Khan Advocate & Muhammad Ramzan Khan were the prominent leaders of Khilafat and Hijrat committees. When the British government still stood on her humiliated treatment with Turkey, the peaceful struggle of Indian Muslims changed into emotional one and launched Hijrat Movement in May 1920.

In N.W.F.P the government was completely boycotted and the students came out of the educational institutions. Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Khan founded his own Madrasa Rafi-ul-Islam at Peshawar for imparting knowledge to the Muslims pupils. When Ulumahs of other areas of the sub-continent and the Khilafat committees gave their verdict in favour of "Non Co-operation" the people of N.W.F.P followed them. The Pathans of the area who had taken keen interest and unique step during the Hijrat movement and had sacrificed their properties and other precious belongings how could hesitate in joining the "Non Co-operation Movement" Amir Chand, a Hindu leader was the first worker of the Khilafat Movement who was arrested in N.W.F.P for his anti-British activities and Mr Allah Bakhsh Yousafi was the very first government servant in the province who resigned his service, giving it the religious significance in consequence of the collective decision of the Muslims for non Co-operation with the government who was followed by Mirza Abdul Hakim Khan.

The effect pf the Non Co-operation movement was unparalleled. The Advocates left their jobs, the functioning of the courts stopped and the whole government machinery was affected seriously. The law and order situation in N.W.F.P was destroyed and the Pathans region was seemed like lawless land.

During the Khilafat and Hijrat movement the people of N.W.F.P produced examples of sacrifice. They left their homes and migrated to Afghanistan, Turkey and Russia with their wives and children. In the Peshawar City there was great excitement as it was the largest Center of Khilafat and Hujrat Movement in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent. The bountiful Pathans were providing all possible help to the refugees. A camp was set out at Namak Mandi Peshawar where they stay and dieting facilities were available for refugees.

In 1923, Mustafa Kamal Pasha dismissed the Sultan degraded the Turkish Khilafat and established a democratic type government in the country. When the Turks themselves deposed the Khilafat of Muslims, the Khilafat and Hijrat Movement in the sub-continent slowly and softly reached to its end.