Mehrab II of Kalat

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Mir Mehrab Khan Baloch II
Khan of Kalat Mir Mehrab Khan Baloch
Reign	1817–1839
Coronation	1817
Predecessor	Mir Mahmud Khan I
Successor	Mir Shah Nawaz Khan
Born	Kalat
Died	1839 Kalat
Religion	Sunni Islam

Mir Mehrab Khan Baloch was the Khan (ruler) of the princely state of Kalat in what is now the Balochistan province of Pakistan during the nineteenth century.^[1]

Mehrab Khan, not receiving cordial support from his leaders, considered it expedient to be friends with the Kandahar Sardars; and also to prevent the plunder of his country. Mehrab Khan also found it necessary to appease Ranjit Singh, and all things considered, he seemed to want the restoration of the Sadozai dynasty in Afghanistan. Despite all the problems, with traitors inside his country, Mehrab Khan retained the possession of his Grandfather Nasir Khan.^[2]

History[]

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Mehrab Khan was a well-meaning but weak ruler. He disgusted his Chiefs by surrendering himself to the influence of one Daud Muhammad, a man of low extraction, for whom he sacrificed the hereditary minister, Fateh Muhammad. Daud Muhammad, however, was killed by Fateh Muhammad's son, Naib Mulla Muhammad Hasan, who was restored to the hereditary office, but who never forgave the injury done to his father. To the revenge of Mulla Muhammad Hasan are attributable the misfortunes which subsequently overtook Mehrab Khan. On the failure of Shah Shuja's first attempt to recover his dominions in 1833, he found refuge for a short time at Kalat before his return to his exile at Ludhiana. When the expedition of 1838 for the restoration of Shah Shujah Durrani was determined on, a British officer, Lieutenant Leech, was sent to Kalat to secure the co-operation of Mehrab Khan, through whose territories the armies had to march. Mulla Muhammad Hasan, however, contrived to create a dislike between the Khan and Lieutenant Leech, and the latter left without attaining his object. The treacherous minister further caused it to be believed that the Khan had seized stores of grain which had been collected for the British troops, and wrote orders in the Khan's name, but without his knowledge, inciting the tribes to rise and harass the British army on its line of march. Sir Alexander Burnes was deputed to Kalat to allay the supposed hostility of the Khan and to negotiate a Treaty (No. CLXXIII) with him. The treaty was signed contrary to the secret wishes of Mulla Muhammad Hasan, and the Khan agreed to proceed to Quetta to pay his respects to Shah Shujah. Sir A. Burnes preceded him. On the way Mulla Muhammad Hasan caused him to be robbed of the draft treaty which the Khan bad signed. The belief that this was done at the instigation of the Khan was studiously im. pressed on the British Government, and the Khan himself was prevented from going to Quetta by Mulla Muhammad Hasan, who frightened him into the belief that the British intended to make him a prisoner. The proofs of the Khan's hostility were now apparently complete, and it was resolved to punish him when a fitting opportunity occurred. Accordingly, when General Wiltshire's brigade was returning from Kabul in 1839, a detachment was sent to Kalat to punish the Khan. The town was taken by storm on the 13th of November. Mehrab Khan fell in the assault, and his son Hasain Khan fled. From the papers discovered in the fort, the treachery of Mulla Muhammad Hasan was fully proved, and he was made a prisoner. With the British army was one Shah Nawaz Khan, a youth of fourteen, descended in the direct male line from Mahabat Khan, who had been deposed by Ahmad Shah Durrani. This youth and his brother Fateh Khan had been imprisoned by Mebrab Khan, but had effected their escape. Shah Nawaz Khan was set up by the British Government as Khan of Kalat; but the provinces of Shal, Mastung, and Kach Gandava were annexed to the dominions of the Ruler of Kabul.^[3] Shortly after the accession of Shah Nawaz Khan, a revolution broke out, headed by Mehrab Khan's son, who had assumed the name of Nasir Khan II. Shah Nawaz Kban was deposed, the British representative at Kalat was murdered, and there was open war between Nasir Khan II and the British Government. As the only means of quieting the country and doing tardy justice to the memory of the unfortunate Mehrab Khan, the British Government reversed its policy, established Nasir Khan II in power, and restored to him the districts which had been annexed to Kabul, with the exception of Shal, which was returned in July 1842.^[3] A Treaty (No. CLXXIV) was concluded with him on 6 October 1841. The main feature in it was that it recognised Kalat as a dependency of Kabul.^[4]

Reign[]

Alexander Burnes (1805 - 1841) diplomat, captain of the British army, traveler and explorer informs and the possession of Mehrab Khan.^[5]

Of all the sovereigns neighboring Sind, the Talpurs most of all relate to Mehrab Khan, the Brahoi ruler of Kelat and Gandava, who, like themselves, was before a tributary of Kabul. With this alliance, the emirs skillfully knew how to place a brave people living in a country that is strong by nature, between their possessions and the Kabul state. Afghans, and how many times they bribed and tried to win over the ruler of Kelat with promises; but so far they have not managed to do anything: on every occasion he shows [362] his readiness to help the emirs in defending that part of their borders that adjoins his possessions. With the Emir of Gaydrabad, through marriage, he is in kinship; the Brahoi and Balochian houses, considering themselves descended from the same root, act as one for their common benefits.

References[]