Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s4.23

v2.c22.s4.23

This second Maratha occupation of Lahor lasted barely six months, but the terror of the vast forces of Dattaji lying within easy call of Sābāji, caused that governor to be obeyed by all the chiefs and landholders of the province. At the end of August Sābāji beat back an invasion of Jahān Khan from Peshawar. The Afghan general lost his son and many of his troops in killed and wounded, and himself retreated with wounds across the Indus. [*DC.*, but Raj. vi. 378 credits the Sikhs with achieving this victory.] But the scene changed early in October next, when news came that a strong Durrāni army under Jahān Khan as commander-in-chief had crossed the Indus and was marching towards Lahor. By this time Dattaji was inextricably involved in the siege of Shukartāl, 70 miles east of Pānipat, and Sābāji finding himself too weak to confrout the Afghans fell back from Lahor. The advance of the invaders was rapid and unopposed. Arriving at Wazirabad, Jahān Khan sent out his troops to raid on all sides. The capital of the Panjab was without a governor or a garrison. Jahān Khan sent 3 or 4 of his men ahead to Surat Singh, a banker of Lahor, with a letter bidding him stamp coins and read the *khutba* in the name of Timur Shāh and issue a proclamation warning all people not to oppress any citizen.