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- 172 - dom. he was never free from the troubles and turmoils erected by his brothers. It was not like the period of Zaman Shah, when the Sadozai brothers had to be content with his reign. From Zarmust, Takhta Pul, Kandahar and Hazarajat,his brothers, like Sirdar Mohamed Azam Khan, Sirdar Mohamed Aslam Khan, Sirdar Mohamed Afzal Khan and Sirdar Mokamed Amin Khan had arisen against him, and although the Amir was successful in the south, north and the west, he was at last overpowered by them. Contrary to Timour Shah Sadozai, who did not declare any of his sons as heir to the throne (the number of such sons being 24). Amir Dost Mohamed Khan had more sons than the above mentioned, and at least 12 of whom survived him. During his life time the Amir gave special attention to this matter of succession. First of all he appointed his eldest son Sirdar Mohamed Haider Khan as his heir, but after the death of that Sirdar. Sirdar Shair Ali Khan was made heir. As we wrote in the article entitled "The Last Days of Amir Dost Mohamed Khan", towards the end of the year 1278. A. H. when on one side he had the expedition of Herat on his hands, and on the other his ailment was getting very serious, he summoned prince Shair Ali Khan before all the Sirdars, military officers and elders and had the prince acknowledged as his successor, showing the wisdom, so that at that delicate juncture jealousies may not disturb the accomplishment of the task before him. But unfortunately, history shows that when Amir Dost Mohamed Khan closed his eyes and departed to the next world, the last rites of his death had not as yet been over, when the new king was sur rounded by fraternal discord. During the actual time of kingship of his father, Amir Shair Ali Khan had been made paramount in all matters relating to the army, till Herat was reduced. And thirteen days after the death of the Amir and the termination of all ceremonies, a return to Kabul was undertaken.