ISKANDER MIRZA -HONOUR-BOUND TO PAKISTAN IN DUTY, DESTINY AND DEATH: Pakistan’s First Elected President’s Memoirs From Exile

Iskander Mirza’s Memoirs could not be published in book form earlier for various reasons and have been published now in their totality after over half a century. The Memoirs lay open the facts for academics, historians and, indeed, the people of Pakistan to judge the man who was a trusted lieutenant of Quaid-e-Azam. While in Indian Political Service, Iskander Mirza worked secretly with Jinnah (who recognized the invaluable potential in the young deputy commissioner of Peshawar) on the most challenging task of achieving Pakistan from the British. In all fairness, General Ayub Khan might not have been entirely behind what happened but sycophants were busy outdoing each other in casting aspersions on Iskander Mirza’s financial propriety, integrity and character. An atmosphere was created that structured the average Pakistani’s mindset of their first President negatively. It is hoped that this book can help change it or at least initiate a debate on the historical distortions, disinformation and withholding of important documented accounts that may not have gone down well with the government of the time.