ʿIbrat-namah 2: 'Imadu-l Mulk Ghazi-u-d din seizes the widow of Mu'inu-l Mulk.

2

['Imadu-l Mulk formed the design of recovering Lahore, and marched for that purpose from Dehli with a large army, taking with him Prince 'Ali Gauhar. They went forward as if on a hunting excursion. Under the advice of Adina Beg Khan, he sent forward from Ludhiyana a force under the command of Saiyid Jamilu-d din Khan, which accomplished the march of forty or fifty kos in one day and night, and reached Lahore early on the following morning. The widow of Mu'inu-l Mulk was asleep in her dwelling, and awoke to find herself a prisoner. She was carried to the camp of 'Imadu-l Mulk, who, upon her arrival, waited upon her, and begged to be excused for what he had done. Having consoled her, he kept her near himself, and gave the province of Lahore to Adina Beg Khan for a tribute of thirty lacs of rupees. Prince 'Ali Gauhar was annoyed by the complaints and reproaches of the widow of Mu'inu-l Mulk, and tried to induce 'Imadu-l Mulk to reinstate her; but the minister paid no heed to his remonstrances, and annoyed him in every way. The widow, hurt by the treatment she had received, let loose her tongue, and in a loud voice reviled and abused the wazir. She added, "This conduct of yours will bring distress upon the realm, destruction to Shah-Jahanabad, and disgrace to the nobles and the State. Ahmad Shah Durrani will soon avenge this disgraceful act and punish you."
Ahmad Shah (Abdali), on hearing of this daring act of 'Imadu-l Mulk, came hastily to Lahore. Adina Beg Khan, being unable to resist, fled towards Hansi and Hissar. 'Imadu-l Mulk was frightened, and by the good offices of Prince 'Ali Gauhar, he succeeded in effecting a reconciliation with the widow of Mu'inu-l Mulk. When Ahmad Shah drew near to Dehli, 'Imadu-l Mulk had no resource but submission, so he sought pardon of his offence through the mediation of the widow. With all the marks of contrition he went forth to meet the Shah, and the widow interceding for him, he was confirmed in his rank and office, upon condition of paying a heavy tribute. On the 7th of Jumada-l awwal, 1170 A.H. (28 Jan. 1757 A.D.), he entered the fortress of Shah-Jahanabad, and had an interview with the Emperor 'Alamgir. He remained in the city nearly a month, plundering the inhabitants, and very few people escaped being pillaged. * *
When Ahmad Shah demanded the tribute from 'Imadu-l Mulk, the latter asked how it could be thought possible for him to have such a sum of money; but he added that if a force of Durranis and a Prince of the house of Timur were sent with him, he might raise a large sum from the country of Sirhind. The Abdali named Prince 'Ali Gauhar, but that Prince had been greatly pained and disgusted by the wilfulness and want of respect shown by 'Imadu-l Mulk on their march to Lahore, so he declined. * * 'Imadu-l Mulk, having assembled a large force, went into Oudh, and Nawab Shuja'u-d daula marched boldly out of Lucknow to oppose him, and took post at Sandi. Conflicts between their advanced forces went on for several days, but an agreement was arrived at through the medium of Sa'du-llah Khan, by which Shuja'u-d daula agreed to pay five lacs of rupees in cash to furnish supplies.]