First female federal minister: Begum Kulsum - the boldest of her time

Begum Kulsum remembered today for her contributions to the community and politics

PESHAWAR:

Veteran politician, industrialist and the country’s first woman federal minister, Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan was laid to rest in her family graveyard in the provincial capital on Tuesday afternoon.

Begum Kulsum passed away in Islamabad on Monday after a prolonged illness. She is survived by sons Salim Saifullah, Anwar Saifullah, Hamayun Saifullah, Javed Saifullah and Dr Iqbal Saifullah. 

Looking back

Begum Kulsum was born on December 24, 1924 in Parachinar to an influential family from Lakki Marwat. At the time of her birth, her father Ali Quli Khan Khattak was serving as the assistant political agent of Kurram Agency. Kulsum had three brothers; Aslam Khattak, Yousuf Khattak and former chief of general staff General (retd) Habibulllah Khan Khattak.

She completed her early education at Mission School in Peshawar and later studied in Lahore and the United Kingdom. In 1941, she married Barrister Saifullah who also belonged to Lakki Marwat and was among the first barristers of Pakistan after Partition.

After the death of her husband in 1962, Begum Kulsum focused her attention to the family’s political affairs and business, Saif Group.

Political life

Because of her family’s affiliation with the Muslim League, Begum Kulsum played an active role in the Independence Movement and the 1946 referendum in the erstwhile North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Begum Kulsum remained active in politics after Partition as well. She was elected MPA from NWFP on a National Awami Party (NAP) ticket along with her son Humayun Saifullah Khan. In the early 1970s, she quit NAP and joined Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), going on to become the provincial president.

Pro-democracy

Begum Kulsum was a stiff opponent of the military regime of Ziaul Haq who seized power and imposed martial law in 1977. Considered one of the boldest woman politicians of her time, Kulsum hosted Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s wife, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, at her house without any fear of the military government and later took her to Charsadda to meet Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.

Because of her opposition to the Ziaul Haq regime, she was arrested and jailed in Abbottabad and was later placed under house arrest for a few months. Later, the Saifullah family quit PPP and became part of the Ziaul Haq government. Being a member of Zia’s Majlis-e-Shoora, Begum Saifullah was inducted to the federal cabinet.

Giving back to the community

The veteran politician was also a respected philanthropist; she extended a helping hand to thousands of migrants who came to Pakistan from India after Partition. She also paid for the weddings and education of hundreds of underprivileged girls from across K-P.

When Muhammad Khan Junejo became prime minister in 1985, Begum Kulsum served his government as a minister for state of commerce and population welfare.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2015.

An earlier version of this article in print did not mention the brothers of Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan.