The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 10
10 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN could continue in the Punjab as leader of a political party based on economic considerations and continue to lead the Unionists, but that he would lend his full support to the concept of Pakistan at the Centre. In the Muslim League organization and leadership, he supported Mr. Jinnah, and there was, after that understanding, no trouble between them. On the death of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, Sir Khizr Hayat Khan took his place. In my view, Sir Khizr Hayat Khan proved a much shrewder and abler man than Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, but opinions differ. I think he also showed greater courage when he found himself confronted with a difficulty. He led the Party, but in the meantime the Muslim League had been growing in power, and Sir Khizr Hayat Khan had to face a difficult position. He was nevertheless able to form and continue a government on Unionist principles, but the communal proportions, in the Party membership in the Legislature underwent a big change. Later, I believe, it even became a coalition government rather than a Unionist government. So that when Independence drew near, in the last year or so, though Sir Khizr Hayat Khan continued to be Chief Minister, he could do so only with the support of a Party which in the Legislature was composed mainly of non-Muslims. To that extent his position was much weaker than that of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan. But this also lent him a certain element of strength in one respect. He could rely on the majority of his Party to give him undivided support to the extent to which he might find it necessary to resist Mr. Jinnah's efforts to control the Provincial Ministry. Having in his Party comparatively few Muslims he was not wholly dependent upon their support to continue as head of the Party. In the end Mr. Jinnah and Sir Khizr Hayat Khan had a battle royal over the question of the allegiance due from the Provincial Party in power to Mr. Jinnah. There was, first, a direct conflict between the Muslim League and Sir Khizr Hayat's Government. The Muslim League embarked on a course of non-violent non-cooperation which touched off a great emotional wave in support of the Muslim League; though the movement did not succeed in displacing the government, it certainly greatly strengthened the position of the Muslim League in the Province. In the middle of all this, and shortly after the Muslim League had given up its non-violent non-cooperative campaign, to be exact on the 20th of February, 1947, Mr. Attlee announced the scheme for Partition. Here, perhaps I had better say a word or two with regard to the Cabinet