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 Shahzada Col (R) Khushwaqt ul-Mulk  laid to rest in Mastuj 

From our Correspondent

MASTUJ: Shahzada Col (R) Khushwaqt ul-Mulk, former Governor of Mastuj was passed away in Islamabad yesterday was laid to rest in Mastuj. Funeral prayer held in Shahi Fort Chitral, all walk of life attended the Namaz Janaza and later on deceased  buried to his ancestral graveyard in Mastuj. He was 96 years old.

Late Col. was Born in the princely family of Chitral on 13th June 1913, Khushwaqt ul-Mulk received his early education at home. He was sent to Royal Indian Military College Dehra Dun in 1926. After graduating from the Indian Military Academy in 1932 he was commissioned in the 2nd Bn Green Howards and then served in 4/19th Hyderabad Regt. During his military career he took a memorable private visit to Iraq via Afghanistan and Iran with his friend late Gen Gillani. From 1944 onwards he served in the South Waziristan Scouts and later became its commandant.

Khushqat ul-Mulk spent his summers in Mastuj but considered Peshawar his second home for the rest of the year. Here he made many friends owing to his warm, gentle and friendly nature. He bought the famous Holmes Studio belonging to RB Holmes the pre-partition photographer from Peshawar and renamed it ‘Chitral House’. He was a regular member of the Peshawar Club and also served as its secretary in 1950s. He remained a ‘whiper-in’ of the famed Peshawar Vale Hunt (horse and hound club) from 1935 to 1951. In 1957 he joined the American Consulate and served there until his retirement in late 1970s.

The deceased was the senior most surviving military officer of the Pakistan army. Settled at Shami Road in later life and being fond of animals, the gentle-hearted Col Khushwaqt was a familiar sight for the residents who got used to seeing him, dressed in shorts and taking regular walks  before sunset everyday. Affectionately known as ‘Mastujia” by his closest friends. The people of Mastuj had lost a great philanthropist and kindhearted personality.