Daily Times

Nawabzada Mohammad Yousaf Khan Hoti, the grandson of the veteran politician, Nawabzada Abdul Ghafoor Khan Hoti, joined PML in a meeting with the political stalwart, Pakistan Muslim League President and former Prime Minister, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, at his residence in 2015. Hussain appointed Hoti as the Central Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League.

In a very short span, because of his meritorious capabilities, he has become the apple of decision-makers’ eyes. After joining PML, seasoned leader Chaudhry Hussain wished the twinkling Hoti a bright career in his political life. Dynamic Hussain emphasised the power of youth in politics and said that youth was the backbone and the future of Pakistan and we must groom and utilise their talent at our best. Hoti is blessed with a very calculated and composed personality; reflecting the slot of future FM or PM.

Hoti, who hails from a politically renowned and influential family of KPK, is an energetic and potential addition in the party. He is a new scion of Mardan’s affluent Hoti family. He enjoys very strong and matchless political family background and political dynasty in KPK.

His grandfather, former KPK Governor, Nawab Abdul Ghafoor Khan Hoti, was the chief of the warrior Yousafzai tribe of Hoti. He was the son of Nawab Akbar Khan Hoti of Mardan and father of former KPK IG, Nawabzada Akbar Khan Hoti, who bears the same name as his illustrious grandfather.

Ameer Haider Hoti and Ameer Ghazan Hoti are the great-grandsons of former NWFP(KPK) Chief Minister, Dr Khan Sahib. Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan alias Dr Khan Sahib was the elder brother of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan alias Baccha Khan.

Former KPK CM and Ameer Haider Hoti’s father, Azam Khan Hoti had remained Federal Minister twice in previous Nawaz Sharif government, while his maternal uncle, Asfandyar Wali Khan, is the Chief of the ANP.

The Hoti family of Mardan had not only played a prominent role during the independence movement but also held quite a sway in Pakistani political circles since 1947. The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had paid a visit to Mardan on November 24, 1945, on the invitation of Nawabzada Abdul Ghafoor Hoti’s father, Nawab Sir Akbar Khan Hoti, and addressed a huge gathering at the Hoti House.

Hoti had not only attended the historical session of Muslim League at Lahore on March 23, 1940, but also attended the “Simla Conference” of 1945.

His son and former governor, Abdul Ghafoor Khan Hoti’s elder brother Colonel (R) Mohammad Amir Khan, a graduate of UK’s prestigious Sandhurst Academy, had participated in World War II; leaving his mark on the battlefields of Libya and Iraq.

He is remembered in Mardan’s history for displaying unmatched gallantry and valour when he had escorted a train carrying thousands of refugees and military equipment from India in1947.

The colonel was rewarded and appointed as a Military Attache in Indonesia after the partition. It was on his invitation in the 1950s that the then Chinese Prime Minister, Zhou Enlai, had paid a visit to Mardan during his historic tour to Pakistan.

Colonel (R) Mohammad Amir Khan later became Minister for Industries, Village Aid and Supplies in late 1957 when Iskandar Mirza had been ruling the country. During Ayub Khan’s era, he remained an MNA and then hosted Premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at Hoti House in Mardan a few years later.

Chaudhrys grooming PMLQ’s future leader

Colonel Hoti was appointed as Ambassador to Spain where he had served for three years from 1981 to 1984. He had also feted the then World Bank President, Robert Strange McNamara, at his farmhouse. Robert McNamara, also the eighth US Secretary of Defense under Presidents John F Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, had served as the fifth World Bank Group President between 1968 and 1981.

It was in this particular meeting that McNamara had extended a loan facility for the establishment of a paper mill at Charsadda. This unit was later known as the Pakistan Paper Corporation. Another eminent Hoti, Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, had remained a Provincial Minister of Education.

His paternal grandfather was Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Hoti and his maternal grandfather was Brigadier Sir Nawab Muhammad Shah Jehan Khan, who has also been the ruler of Dir State. He is the son-in-law of late Abdul Ghafoor Khan Hoti.

Under the charismatic leadership of Chaudhry Hussain, Pakistan Muslim League (Q) exercises a clear policy of maintaining an ultimate strong bilateral relationship with China. For the achievement of this lofty task, PML (Q)’s visionary leader, Chaudhry Hussain, has deputed confident Yousaf Hoti very popular in diplomatic circles. Very successfully, Yousaf is maintaining strong ties with Chinese high-level officials. Senior Chinese officials, former DHM Zhao Lijian and serving Ambassador Excellency Yao Jing are like brothers to him. Likewise, Hoti maintains a strong cordial relationship with other high-level diplomats and politicians of the world. He lauds and follows Chaudhry Hussain’s political vision and policies. He believes that Pakistan’s strong bilateral relationship with China will pave the way towards political, economic and diplomatic stability and prosperity. He is of the view that Pakistan needs top-level ties on political, economic and diplomatic grounds to meet the benchmarks of the first world. He also believes Pakistan still can do a lot for brave Kashmiris by successfully and positively moving the international community in their favour. He is always seen busy in lobbying for Kashmir, Palestine and Pakistan China strong bilateral relationships. He utters that Pakistan can’t afford a distorted relationship with any country especially China, America, and our neighbours. This is the world of politics and diplomacy. National and international conflicts and disputes can only be resolved by political foresight and strong diplomatic capabilities. Seeing Yousaf Hoti Pakistan Muslim League seems to be the only national-level political party, which is grooming future leaders of Pakistan.

The writer is the author of several books, a columnist and political analyst based in Islamabad