History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c6.45

c6.45

Juna was not reconciled to the newly established government, and, in a position of unusual embarrassment, he continued to confer daily with the leading nobles of 'Ala-al-Din to devise means of Khusrau's overthrow. Neither the attention of Khusrau nor the prospect of official honours served to dissipate his sombre broodings. After two months and a half his patience was exhausted. The author of the *Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi* writes that he was asked by Khusrau to take out for a ride the 'Arab horses who had become too fat, and he is supported by Ibn Batūtah.²⁶ He seized this opportunity, and one day at the time of afternoon prayer he left the Court with Bahram Aiba's son rode post-haste in the direction of Dipalpur. As soon as his flight was known to Khusrau, he was filled with dismay, and forthwith a small contingent of nobles, headed by the son of Qara Qimar, who was the commander of the royal forces, was dispatched to overtake the disaffected Amir. But Fakhr-al-Din continued his march the whole night and next day, eluded the grasp of his pursuers, and reached Sirsuti²⁷ in safety. Before his arrival his father had already sent there Muhammad Sartabā at the head of 200 horse from Dipalpur to occupy and garrison the fortress in anticipation of the coming danger. Freed from anxiety on the score of his son, Ghazi Malik vowed vengeance upon Khusrau and began to make preparations for an encounter with the Hindus. He issued a circular letter to all the nobles of the empire appealing to them for assistance. With a few exceptions the most notable of which was Maghalati, the governor of Multan, who did not like to play the second fiddle to Ghazi Malik, the nobles expressed their willingness to join the confederacy. But the people disapproved of Maghalati's conduct and turned against him.