 His family, from Khushab, were part of the Tiwana family of Shahpur.Khan served in the Somaliland War of 1902-1904, receiving the Jidballi medal and clasp, in the Tibet Expedition of 1903-1904 (for which he was Mentioned in Despatches), in the European theatre of the Great War, 1914-15 (during which he was Mentioned in Despatches a further six times), and then in the Third Anglo-Afghan War.He was attached to the 18th King George's Own Lancers and later the 19th King George's Own Lancers.