Malik Ata Muhammad Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malik Ata Muhammad Khan
ملک عطا محمد خان |
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| Vice-President, Member of Executive Committee of International Tent Pegging Federation/ President of the Equestrian & Tent pegging Federation of Pakistan. | |
| Malik | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Malik Ata Muhammad Khan
25 October 1937 British India |
| Died | 6 February 2020 (aged 82) Attock |
| Citizenship | Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Spouse | (Daughter of Nawab of Kalabagh) |
| Relatives | Nawab Malik Ameer Muhammad khan (Father in law) |
| Residences | Kot Fateh Khan, District of Attock |
| Occupation | HSH Prince of Principality of Kot Fateh Khan |
Malik Ata Muhammad Khan (
, Punjabi: ملک عطا محمد خان, 25 October 1937 – 6 February 2020), also known as Prince Malik Ata, was a Pakistani leader and politician. He was the chief of Kot Fateh Khan, a town in the Attock District of Punjab, Pakistan. He also served as a member of the Punjab Assembly from 1990 to 1993.
Malik Ata was famous for his love of horses and horse sports. He was the first elected President of the Equestrian & Tent Pegging Federation of Pakistan. He worked hard to make tent pegging and bull races popular in Pakistan. He also helped start the International Tent Pegging Federation, which is recognized by the FEI. He was the Vice-President of this international federation.
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His Family and Background
Malik Ata Muhammad Khan came from a respected family in Kot Fateh Khan. His grandfather, Sardar Muhammad Nawaz Khan Gheba, was the chief of the Gheba-Rajput tribe. This family had controlled the Kot Fateh estate, which included many villages, for about 350 years.
Malik Ata became the head of his family because his grandfather had no sons. He was the eldest grandson, so he took on this important role. His father was Malik Yar Muhammad Khan. Malik Ata was also related to the Nawab of Kalabagh, Nawab Malik Ameer Muhammad Khan Awan, who was a former Governor of West Pakistan.
His Time in Politics
Malik Ata Muhammad Khan was also involved in politics. In 1988, he ran for election with the Islami Jamhoori Ittihad (IJI) party.
Later, in 1990, Malik Ata Muhammad Khan ran for election again from his home area (PP-15 – Attock). He won and served in the provincial assembly of Punjab. He was a member of the assembly from 5 November 1990 to 28 June 1993. After his father passed away in 1996, Malik Ata took on more family duties and managed their estate. This meant he could not continue his political work.
A Champion of Horse Sports
Malik Ata was a skilled horseman. He took part in many tent pegging and other horse riding competitions around the world. He competed in Europe, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and India.
He once said, "When the horse is running 65 to 70 miles per hour and you have to pick a small, one-inch peg from the ground it is very spectacular, either with the sword or with the lance." This shows how exciting tent pegging can be!
- In 1982, Ata competed in the Ninth Asian Games held in Delhi, India. He won a silver medal for Pakistan.
- Ata and the Pakistan team also took part in the 1982 Hyde Park games in London.
- He led the Pakistan tent pegging team at the annual Royal Adelaide Show in 2010 in Adelaide, South Australia.
- Malik Ata also led the Pakistan team in the Penta Grand World Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship in 2010, 2012, and 2013.
- In 2014, the FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports) invited Ata to show tent pegging at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. He was honored to lead all the countries with the Pakistani flag on the opening day.
- In February 2013, an international tent pegging competition was held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad in Pakistan. This was a big event because it was the first time more than two international teams visited Pakistan for a competition. Teams from England, South Africa, and a United Nations team joined Pakistan. Malik Ata was the main organizer of this event.
International Tent Pegging Federation
Malik Ata wanted to create a global organization for tent pegging. At the 2013 World Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship in Gurgaon, India, he shared this idea. The participants then created the World Tent Pegging Federation, and Ata was chosen as its honorary president.
At the second World Tent Pegging Federation Meeting in Oman on 27 October 2013, Ata was elected as a member of the Executive Committee. He served on this committee for four years.
Appearing in Media
Malik Ata Muhammad Khan was featured in several TV shows and movies.
- He was mentioned in the BBC series Michael Palin's Himalaya production. Michael Palin visited Malik Ata's home and saw traditional activities and bull races there.
- In 1983, the BBC made a short documentary about him called "One Man and his Horse."
- He was also the subject of a documentary called "Malik Ata and his love for the traditional sports." This was shown on the Trans World Sport Channel with help from the BBC.
- He appeared in the 1998 PTV drama Alpha Bravo Charlie, which was directed by Shoaib Mansoor.
- Malik Ata also acted in the movie "Verna," released on 17 November 2017. He played the role of a governor, and many scenes were filmed at his home in Kot Fateh Khan.
Images for kids
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Malik Ata Muhammad Khan at Horse and Cattle Show Attock, 1982
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Malik Ata with Amer Munawar
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Malik Sher Afzal giving medal to Malik Ata Muhammad Khan at Attock Mela April 2013
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Malik Ata and Pak team at World Equestrian Championship India 2012
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Malik Ata and others enjoying the competition
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Malik Ata with one of his dancing horses at Kot Fateh Khan Mela 2008
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Malik Ata, Mian Javed Akhtar, Ashraf Hayat Gondal, Ch Zulfiqar Ali at the BTA Championship South Africa 2011
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Malik Ata Muhammad Khan at Horse and Cattle Show, Ranger Ground Lahore 2012
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Malik Ata, Ch Zulfiqar, Qamar Zaman Khan and Wamiq Shah at Royal Adelaide Show 2010, Australia
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Masi Ata with Alexander Gandaa, Senior Associate NPD
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Malik Ata riding on Grey Cloud at Chakri (Rwp) Mela
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Malik Ata Muhammad Khan with his friends at Kot Fateh Khan Mela 2008
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Malik Ata receiving medal from General Atif of Oman at Asian Beach Games 2010, Oman
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Malik Ata leading Pakistan tent pegging team at Sudan 2014
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Malik Ata at Tent Pegging at Pindi Gheb, Pakistan
