Bharat Ratna Awarded to Pakistani National Explained

The question asks about the only Pakistani national who has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, which is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.

Let's look at the options provided:

• Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
• Nawaz Sharif
• Benazir Bhutto
• Imran Khan

The Bharat Ratna is conferred in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. It was instituted on 2 January 1954. While it is an Indian award, it has been awarded to non-Indians as well.

Out of the given options, only one individual is known to have received this prestigious award while being a Pakistani national.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Bacha Khan or Frontier Gandhi, was a Pashtun independence activist against British colonial rule in India. He was a political and spiritual leader known for his non-violent opposition, and a lifelong pacifist and devout Muslim. He founded the Khudai Khidmatgar ("Servants of God") movement.

Despite his decision to reside in Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan maintained close ties with India and its leaders due to his significant role in the Indian independence movement and his commitment to non-violence.

In recognition of his immense contributions and dedication to peace and non-violence, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1987. He was the first non-Indian to receive this award.

The other individuals listed are prominent Pakistani politicians, but none have been awarded the Bharat Ratna.

• Nawaz Sharif served multiple terms as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
• Benazir Bhutto also served multiple terms as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
• Imran Khan served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Therefore, the only Pakistani national among the options, and indeed the only one historically, to receive the Bharat Ratna is Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.

Revision Table: Key Facts about Bharat Ratna and Pakistani National Recipient

Additional Information on Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Bharat Ratna

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi and was often referred to as the 'Frontier Gandhi' due to his adoption of non-violent methods for social and political change in the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan). His Khudai Khidmatgar movement, also known as the 'Red Shirts', was a non-violent force that played a significant role in the independence struggle.

The Bharat Ratna has been awarded to a few other non-Indians apart from Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, including Nelson Mandela (South Africa) and Mother Teresa (originally Albanian, later Indian citizen, but received the award before becoming an Indian citizen according to some records, though primarily recognized for her work in India).

The award was temporarily suspended from 1977 to 1980. It was resumed in 1980. The eligibility criteria were expanded in 2011 to include "any field of human endeavor".