Dr. Muhammad Iqbal

Dr. Muhammad Iqbal the great eastern poet, Muslim philosopher and scholar was also born in Sialkot city of Pakistan. Also called Allama Iqbal, he paved a way for creation independent Muslim state, Pakistan by inviting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (R.A.) from London to Pakistan in order to struggle for Muslim homeland.

The famous poets like Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and Amjad Islam Amjad (also a lyricist) were also born in Sialkot city of Pakistan. Asghar Sodai who wrote national anthem “Pakistan Ka Matlab Kiya” is also considered as a famous Urdu poet from Sialkot city of Pakistan.

The famous Sialkot convention of all India Muslim league was organized by Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi a native to Sialkot. A good physician, mystic poet, scholar who contributed in Urdu and Persian poetry and a great devotee of Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H), named Dr. Qamar Tabish also belongs from Sialkot.

Famous Journalists like Kuldip Nayyer and Hamid Mir belongs to Sialkot too.

Political figures like Khawaja Asif who is significant PML(N) figure, Rehman Malik who is Minister of Interior Affairs of Pakistan and Chaudhry Amir Hussian who served as former Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan are also famous personalities of Sialkot.

Famous Pakistani Cricketers like Zaheer Abbas, Zahid Fazal, Ejaz Ahmed and current Pakistani Cricket Team Captain Shoaib Malik are also gems of Sialkot. Stars from Pakistani Hockey Team named Asif Bajwa, Kamran Ashraf and Shenaz Sheikh also famous personalities of Sialkot.

Imam Ali-ul-Haq R.A

Imam Ali-ul-Haq (R.A.)

Sialkot city of Pakistan is also renowned for famous personalities. One of them is Imam Ali-ul-Haq (R.A.). Also known as Imam Sahib, the majority of Sialkot population is converted to Islam during 13th century A.D by Imam Ali-ul-Haq (RA).

Famous Personality of Sialkot Allama Muhammad Iqbal

Sir Muhammad Iqbal was a great poet, philosopher and politician. He is commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal‎, Allama meaning "Scholar".
After studying in Cambridge, Munich and Heidelberg, Iqbal instead of establishing law practice, concentrated primarily on writing scholarly works on politics, economics, history, philosophy and religion. He is best known for his poetic works, including Asrar-e-Khudi, Rumuz-e-Bekhudi, and Bang-e-Dara.

Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilization across the world. He delivered a series of famous lectures which were published as “The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam”. One of the most prominent leaders of the All India Muslim League, Iqbal encouraged the creation of a "state in North Western India for Muslims" in his 1930 presidential address. Iqbal encouraged and worked closely with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and he is known as Muffakir-e-Pakistan ("The Thinker of Pakistan"), Shair-e-Mashriq ("The Poet of the East"), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat ("The Sage of Ummah"). He is officially recognized as the national poet of Pakistan.

In 1933, after returning from a trip to Spain and Afghanistan, Iqbal suffered from a mysterious throat illness. He spent his final years helping Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan to establish the Dar ul Islam Trust Institute at Jamalpur estate near Pathankot. Iqbal ceased practicing law in 1934 and he was granted pension by the Nawab of Bhopal. Iqbal died in Lahore in 1938. His tomb is located in Hazuri Bagh, the enclosed garden between the entrance of the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort, and official guards are maintained there by the Government of Pakistan.

Iqbal is commemorated widely in Pakistan, where he is regarded as the ideological founder of the state. His Tarana-e-Hind is a song that is widely used in India as a patriotic song speaking of communal harmony. His birthday(9th November) is annually commemorated in Pakistan as Iqbal Day, a national holiday. Iqbal is the namesake of many public institutions, including the Allama Iqbal Medical College, Allama Iqbal Open University and the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. Government and public organizations have sponsored the establishment of colleges and schools dedicated to Iqbal, and have established the Iqbal Academy to research, teach and preserve the works, literature and philosophy of Iqbal.

Sialkot History

We have arranged for you links and resources regarding Sialkot history to let you know about past facts of this beautiful city of Pakistan. If we follow with respect to time eras then Sialkot history can be divided into following

Vedic EraAn era when it is ruled by a dynasty of a founder of Sialkot (or Sakala) named as Raja Sul (Sala) before 5000 years ago from today.

Persian Greek EraWhile reviewing the History of Sialkot in details some facts denotes that this city was the eastern most outpost of Alexander the Great Hellenic Empire comprising Persians and Greeks. During 160 and 135 BC Sialkot acted as one of the capitals of Indo-Greek Empire.

Scythian Hun EraThe Scythian Hun era revolves around the story of Raja Sáliváhan, his son, Raja Rasálu, and his enemy, Raja Húdi. Raja Sáliváhan belongs to a caste named as ‘Sia’ which is a jut clan of Scythian origins built a fort and gave city a name of Sialkot. After death of Raja Sáliváhan, Raja Rasálu came into throne and fought with chieftain of Ghaker named as Raja Húdi and defeated by him. After his death in 400 AD there was no significant accounts for Sialkot history for next 300 years. During the last quarter of 5th century Huns sacked the city. After that phase it is believed that it remained part of Jammu ruler named as Raja Bahram Deo.

Muslim Mughal EraMuslim Mughal Era starts when Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Ghauri conquered Punjab in 1011 and dissolved the city as a part of the Muslim Sultanate of Delhi. Sialkot acted as his garrison. After that this city came under rule of Mughal Empire of India and Mughal emperor Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad considered it as part of Rachna-Bar Sarkar of Lahore province. Ali Mardan Khan was the chief of the city during reign of Mughal Emperor, Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan.

Afghan Pastuns EraAfter the end of Mughal reign it came under a pastuns families from kandhar and Kabul although the surroundings were possessed by Raja Ranjit Deo of Jammu. During 1748 Ahmad shah durrani conquered and let Sialkot part of afghan empire. Meanwhile Raja Ranjit Deo of Jammu continued to make his holdings in remote areas of the strong but not invaded Sialkot. The Sikhs gain control of this city from pastuns and ruled for 40 years till British dominion.

Sikh British EraAfter Ahmad shah durrani reign, Britishers aided pastuns financially, economically and militarily to push Afghans further west. Between 1797 and 1810 it was occupied by Raja Ranjit Singh however after Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849 Sialkot was captured by British. 

Pakistan Movement EraPakistan movement era marks efforts of Allama Iqbal who was born in Sialkot and also famous convention of may 1944 which portrayed the All India Muslim League as prominent figure in the British-Indian Punjab including participants of famous names like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, 'Lord' Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad Malhi, Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din, Sardar Abd-ur-Rab Nishtar, Mumtaz Ahmad Khan Daultana, Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan of Mamdot and Maulvi Tamiz-ud-Din.

Modern EraWhen Pakistan was founded during 1947 majority of immigrants who comprise population from Pathan Kot and Gurdaspur settled in this city after that Sialkot has gradually become a major industrial city of Pakistan. Sialkot also witnessed a great battle of Tanks ever after the First World War also known as “Battle of Chawinda” in 1965 Second Kashmir War when people of city along with Pakistani Army fought against numerically superior and well equipped Indian army and showed acts of vigor and bravery by defending Pakistan.

History of Sialkot

Poisonous well gas kills three of a family

A man, his two sons and a labourer were killed due to poisonous gas in a well at Godha Thathi Bajwa village in Badiana police limits on Thursday.

The well of Mukhtar Ahmad had been abandoned and out of use for the last 10 years. On the day of the incident, Mukhtar planned to clean the well and make it functional. He along with labourer Arshad entered the well and fell unconscious due to poisonous gas. When they did not come out of the well, Mukhtar’s sons Azhar and Mazhar also entered the well to rescue them but unfortunately they also fainted. As a result, all the four died in the well. Rescue 1122 pulled the bodies out of the well after a three-hour operation.