Malik Meraj Khalid

Malik Meraj Khalid was a Pakistani barrister, politician and Marxist philosopher. He served as the caretaker prime minister of Pakistan from 1996 to 1997.

Early life and education

Malik Meraj Khalid was born in 1916 in Dera Chahal, which is a small village near Burki in the Lahore district. He belonged to an Awan Punjabi tribe and was raised in a poor farming family. During his childhood, he witnessed his family struggle against feudalism as they grew crops for a local lord. This landlord paid them less than the minimum wage established by the British Indian Empire government. Despite these hardships, Khalid completed high school and eventually worked for a feudal lord who financed his higher studies.

He attended Islamia College in Lahore to further his academic pursuits. He earned an LLB degree from Punjab University Law College in 1944. He also obtained an Associate degree in public works. In 1948, he established his own law firm and began his legal practice.

Career

Khalid's political journey began with community work aimed at promoting literacy in his native village. He was inspired by communist literature from the Soviet Union. In 1965, he was elected to the Provincial Assembly of West Pakistan for the first time. He joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1968 and served as the President of its Lahore chapter. After being a founder of the PPP, he successfully won a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1970.

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto appointed him as the Minister for Food and Agriculture and Under-Developed Areas in December 1971. He later served as the Chief of the Party's Parliamentary Affairs in November 1972. Khalid also held the position of Chief Minister of Punjab from 1972 to 1973. His various roles included serving as the Minister of Social Welfare, Local Government and Rural Development in 1975. He was also appointed law minister in 1974.

Following the execution of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in April 1979, Khalid became a nominated member of the PPP's Central Committee. He resigned from this committee in January 1988. After returning to the National Assembly in 1988, he was appointed Speaker of the National Assembly. He served as Speaker during two non-consecutive terms. He lost the elections in 1993 and temporarily left politics.

In 1996, President Farooq Leghari dismissed the government of Benazir Bhutto due to corruption and political killings. Khalid was asked to lead the interim government as caretaker prime minister. During his tenure, he maintained a simple lifestyle and kept his Lahore home accessible to the public. He worked to rally anti-Benazir Bhutto forces, which contributed to the 1997 landslide victory for Nawaz Sharif. In 1997, he also served as the Rector of International Islamic University in Islamabad.

Personal life

Khalid was known for his honesty and gentleness throughout his life. He lived in a residence in Lahore where he remained active in grassroots activism. He died on 13 June 2003 at age 87. He was buried with full state honours in a local cemetery. He is survived by his widow and an adopted son.