Nawab Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan

Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan the founder of Islamia college
Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan.


He was born in 1863 and hailed from Topi, Swabi District. He is perhaps best known for establishing Islamia College, Peshawar. He was a pro-British person. He actively participated in the Miranzai, Samana battles in 1892 along with the British Forces. During the demarcation of the Afghanistan and British India border when Durand Commission was established, he represented the British. During the war between Mahmands and British government, Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum was sent to the battle front and participated in the actions. He was awarded with the title of Khan Bahadar by British government.


Muhammad Anwar Khan writes, “Roos-Keppel always thought that Frontier was north-westerly and not southeasterly in its outlook and the Pathan could only be tamed to civility with greater watch. The foundation of Islamia collegiate school and college in concert with Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum was one of those taming efforts.” [The Role of N.W.F.P. in the Freedom Struggle – p-43]

In 1932 Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan reported stated that Pashtuns wanted their children to be instructed in Urdu rather than Pashto”. [“Lesser-Known Languages of South Asia”, p-76]


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