Roedad Khan

Roedad Khan (Urdu: رؤداد خان; born 28 September 1923) is a Pakistani politician and former civil servant. He was Pakistani statesman from the start to the end of the Cold war. During his long career, Khan was one of the most senior civil servants of Pakistan. In 1923, Khan was born in Mardan, North-West Frontier Province, British Indian Empire, to an ethnic Pashtun family that belongs to a Yousufzai tribe. In 1939, he graduated from local high school and went to attend Forman Christian College and gained BA in English Literature in 1942. Respecting his father's wishes, Khan attended the Aligarh Muslim University and gained MA in English history in 1946. Upon his return to Mardan, Khan taught English history at Islamia College, Peshawar and opted Pakistan's citizenship in 1947. In 1949, Khan joined Central Superior Services and started his career in 1951. During his long career, Khan served with five Presidents of Pakistan and three Prime ministers of Pakistan. However, his career was at peak when he served with Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, responsible for country's internal security while an intelligence efforts were built up to sabotage Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan Soviet Republic. Khan, a part of General's Zia policy to enhance the secret establishment, Khan served as its elite member. After fall of communism, Khan officially retired from Pakistan's politics and civil services and went on to become a political analyst as of current.

Khan was born on 23 September 1923, in a small village of Mardan, North-West Frontier Province, British Indian Empire, to an ethnic Pashtun family that belonged to Yousufzai tribe. After completing a local high school, Khan went to Lahore to attend Forman Christian College in 1939. The atmosphere, in the College was liberal, tolerant and progressive. After gaining Bachelor of Arts in English Language, Khan travelled back to his home, and then took off to Aligarh to attend Aligarh Muslim University. In 1946, Khan opted MA in English History, and joined Islamia College as a Professor of History. After opting Pakistan's citizenship in 1947, Khan took an admission in Civil Services of Pakistan and joined the elite District Management Group, and started his career in 1951 as the Secretary of Chief Minister of Sindh Provincial Government.

He went on to become the Secretary General of Pakistan, the highest rank in Pakistani bureaucracy. Roedad Khan had held major public offices during the regime of President General Muhammad Zia ul Haq and President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Before being appointed as the Secretary General, he held the position of Secretary Federal Ministry of Interior. He is also author of three books.

Roedad Khan joined the civil service of Pakistan in 1949 and has held several appointments, including those of Chief Secretary Sindh, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, managing director Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), Secretary Information & Broadcasting, Secretary Ministry of Labour, Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Secretary Ministry of Interior, Secretary General Ministry of Interior, Federal Minister of Accountability and Advisor to the Prime Minister and President.

Roedad Khan has worked with five Presidents of Pakistan.

• Establishment (Pakistan)