Politician Khaild, after a stint as Punjab's chief minister, became federal agricultural minister, in 1970, in Z A Bhutto's government. In 1996, following the dismissal of Benazir Bhutto's second administration he became interim prime minister of Pakistan. After his exit from politics, in 1997, he was appointed rector of the Islamic University, in recognition of his interest in education and literacy, and he also kept engaged with community work. Malik Meraj Khalid was born in a village near Lahore, then British India, and entered legal practice, after completing his education, in 1948. He was respected across the spectrum.