Firoz Khan Nun

Sir Malik Firoz Khan Noon was a Pakistani politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Pakistan from December 1957 until October 1958. He was a founding father of the nation who helped negotiate the establishment of the Federation of Pakistan on 14 August 1947. Throughout his life, he held various high-ranking positions including Chief Minister of West Punjab and High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.

Early life and education

Firoz Khan Noon was born into an aristocratic Rajput landowning family in the village of Hamoka, located in the Khushab District of Punjab. His ancestors served in the army of Ranjit Singh, and his father, Nawab Malik Sir Muhammad Hayat Khan Noon, was a nominated member of the Council of State from 1935 to 1937. Following his initial schooling at Aitchison College in Lahore, Noon traveled to England in 1912. He resided with the family of Reverend Lloyd in Ticknall, South Derbyshire, while he prepared for his university studies.

He applied to Oxford University and was eventually accepted by Wadham College after an initial rejection from Balliol College. Noon graduated from Wadham College in 1916 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. During his time at university, he played collegiate field hockey for the Isis Club. He focused heavily on his studies and followed his father's advice to learn English culture, which resulted in a lifelong admiration for Britain.

After completing his degree, he moved to London to sit for law examinations. He qualified as a barrister-at-law from the Inner Temple in 1917 before returning to India.

Career

Noon began practicing law at the District Court in Sargodha in January 1918. He later established a reputation in civil law at the Lahore High Court until 1927. His political career started in 1920 when he was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly as a member of the Unionist Party. Between 1927 and 1936, he held several provincial portfolios including local government, health, and education under various governors.

In 1936, he resigned from his service in Punjab to serve as the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom. During World War II, he supported British efforts against the Axis powers and lobbied for the deployment of the British Indian Army in Africa and the Middle East. He also served in the War Department under Winston Churchill between 1944 and 1945. In 1945, he attended the first United Nations session as the Permanent Representative of India.

Following the partition of India, Noon became a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. In October 1947, Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah appointed him as a special envoy to Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world to seek moral and financial support for the new nation. He later served as the Governor of East Bengal starting in 1950, though he eventually returned to Punjab politics. On 26 March 1953, he became the Chief Minister of Punjab.

He served as the seventh prime minister of Pakistan from December 1957 until he was ousted in October 1958. This transition occurred when President Iskandar Ali Mirza imposed martial law and appointed Ayub Khan as the chief martial law administrator. In 1955, Noon left the Muslim League to help establish the Republican Party.

Awards and recognition

Noon received several prestigious honors during his career in public service. He was knighted in the 1933 New Year Honours List and was appointed an Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John in December 1932. His subsequent honors included being named a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1937. He also attained the rank of Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India in October 1941.