Prince Malik Ata Muhammad Khan of Kot Fateh Khan, Attock passes away
Tent pegging champion Prince Malik Ata Muhammad Khan passed away on Thursday.
Born on 25 October 1941, he was the chief of Kot Fateh Khan in the Attock District.
He will be missed as the legendary horse rider who represented Pakistan in tent pegging on the international level.
His title as the best horse-rider is symbolic recognition of the status of Pakistan in European countries.
He was the first elected President of the Equestrian & Tent Pegging Federation of Pakistan.
If you have seen the classic drama series Alpha Bravo Charlie, you would know that Prince Ata also made an appearance in the hit series. He played the role of Captain Faraz’s father.
Prince Ata also appeared in a BBC series “Michael Palin’s Himalaya Production” in which Palin met Ata after visiting his hometown.
In an interview with the British journalist, prince Ata quoted his famous saying, “I am one of the last dinosaurs and it will all finish with me.”
He was also the subject of a short documentary produced by BBC “One Man and His Horse” in 1983.
Not many knew he owned a personal zoo having many precious animal breeds.
In 1982, he participated in the Ninth Asian Games held in Delhi, as Captain of the Pakistan spear-throwing team and succeeded in winning his session.
Moreover, he undertook a tour of Europe and South Africa to take part in several other tournaments.
He was honored as the best horse rider in the National Horse and Cattle Show held in Lahore for several years.
Prince Malik Ata Muhammad Khan has also been associated with politics but left after his father’s death in 1996, as the entire responsibilities of the family and management of the estate came on his shoulders.