Mohammad Hanif Khan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sardar Mohammad Hanif Khan محمد حنیف خان | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Samangan Province | |
| In office 1964–1967 | |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Governor of Ghorat (Herat Province) | |
| In office 1954–1964 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 20, 1911 Kabul, Emirate of Afghanistan |
| Died | October 2, 1994 Alexandria, Virginia, United States |
| Spouse | Saida (Shirin Jan) Salek |
| Relations | Barakzai dynasty |
| Parent(s) | Sardar Asif Khan (father), Jan Begum (mother) |
| Profession | Provincial governor |
Mohammad Hanif Khan (Kabul, Afghanistan, 20 June 1911 – Alexandria, Virginia, United States, 2 October 1994) was an Afghan aristocrat and provincial governor during the reign of King Mohammad Zahir Shah. A member of the Muhammadzai branch of the Barakzai dynasty, he served as the governor (ālī ḥākim) of Ghorat in the 1950s. [1] At that time, Ghorat was not a separate province but formed part of the administrative territory of Herat Province. The modern Ghor Province was re-established in 1964, incorporating Ghorat and surrounding regions. Hanif Khan subsequently became the first governor of the newly established Samangan Province in 1964. [2] Hanif Khan was part of the Barakzai royal lineage descended from Sardar Payinda Khan Mohammedzai,[1] making him a relative of Afghan rulers of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Amir Dost Mohammad Khan, Sardar Sultan Mohammad Khan Telai and Zahir Shah. He is remembered for his role in provincial administration and contributions to local (especially agricultural) development. [3]
Mohammad Hanif Khan was born on 20 June 1911 into the Muhammadzai nobility of Afghanistan. His father was Sardar Asif Khan, a provincial governor,[1] and his mother, Bibi Jan Begum, was the daughter of Jan Mahomed Khan, a senior official in the court of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan. [4] Jan Mahomed Khan served as Lord of the Treasury (chief treasury officer, Khazanadar-e-Kul (خزانه دار کل) under Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.[5]
Hanif Khan’s paternal lineage traces directly to the Barakzai dynasty’s founding generation. He was a direct descendant of Sardar Payinda Muhammad Khan (also known as Sarfraz Khan), the chief of the Barakzai tribe who was killed in 1799. [1] Hanif Khan’s great-grandfather was Sardar Said Mohammad Khan (1797–1860),[6] one of the so-called "Peshawar Sardars," a group of brothers who controlled the northwestern frontier regions of Afghanistan during the early 19th century, particularly the areas of Peshawar, Hashtnagar and associated crown lands (khalisajat). [7]
Hanif Khan’s brother, General Mohammed Arif Khan served as Minister of Defence in the first cabinet of Prime Minister Daoud Khan under King Zahir Shah, and later as Afghan ambassador to the Soviet Union. [6]