14 Facts About Akleem Akhtar

Akleem Akhtar, known as General Rani, was the mistress of the Pakistani President and Dictator General Yahya Khan.

In 1963, when on holiday in the cool hills of Murree, Akleem Akhtar suddenly snapped and rebelled against her husband by removing her niqab.

Akleem Akhtar began visiting nightclubs and other such places that were frequented by business, political and military elite in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

Akleem Akhtar made contacts with good-looking young women who, for various reasons, had run away from their homes after suffering poverty and harsh circumstances at their homes.

Akleem Akhtar reportedly adopted the motto "miyan ki juti miyan ke sar", and started a prostitution business.

Akleem Akhtar maintained she only played a background role, acting as a 'mother figure' to the young girls which she provided to rich and powerful men.

Akleem Akhtar became acquainted with rich and powerful men through frequenting clubs, through which she met General Yahya Khan in 1967, a compulsive drinker and womanizer.

Akleem Akhtar created a close relationship with the General, who she reportedly called 'Agha Jani'.

Akleem Akhtar held no official position in his circle but was given special privileges due to their close association.

Akleem Akhtar publicly denied being Yahya Khan's mistress, claiming their relationship was merely that of friends.

Akleem Akhtar said in one interview that she exploited the Khan's weaknesses: alcohol and women.

In May 2002, Pakistani media reported Akleem Akhtar had breast cancer that metastasized to her liver and kidney.

Akleem Akhtar died at the age of 70 or 71, on 1 July 2002 at Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Lahore after fighting cancer for five years.

Akleem Akhtar is the maternal grandmother of a Pakistani pop star Fakhar-e-Alam.