The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c25.136

v3.c25.136

Two nobles of the second rank, Fattūjī Muhāfiz Khān and Daryā Khān Husain, urged ‘Imād-ul-Mulk Malikjī, son of Tawakkul, who had long taken a prominent part in the affairs of the kingdom and now found himself relegated to the third place, that of deputy minister, to remove Ikhtiyār Khān by assassination, and his jealousy and ambition succumbed to the temptation. He stepped into Ikhtiyār Khān’s place and appropriated the title of Amīr-ul-Umarā, but ‘Abd-ul-Latīf Sadr Khān, the minister, grieved deeply for his old friend, and taxed ‘Imād-ul-Mulk with having been accessory to his death. The new regent’s denial of his complicity was not believed, and Sadr Khān voluntarily resigned his post, and explained to the king the grounds for his action. He informed both the king and the regent that Daryā Khān aspired to the first place in the kingdom, and privately warned ‘Imād-ul-Mulk that the life of none would be safe if ambitious subordinates were permitted to foment discord between the great officers of state and to persuade them to remove rivals by assassination. Daryā Khān obtained the post vacated by Sadr Khān, but the latter’s warning was not lost upon ‘Imād-ul-Mulk who regarded his late accomplice with suspicion, which was rewarded with secret intrigue and open hostility.