'Imádu-l Mulk (Gházíu-d dín Khán), who was very apprehensive of Najíbu-d daula, excited Dattá Sindhia and Jhankú Mahratta to hostilities against him, and promised them several lacs of rupees, on condition of their expelling him from the country which he occupied. The Mahratta chiefs accordingly, at the head of their southern armies, attacked Najíbu-d daula with impetuosity, and he, as long as he was able, maintained his ground against that force, which was as numerous as ants or locusts, till at last, being able to hold out no longer, he took refuge in the fort of Sakartál. The southrons laid siege to the fort, and having stopped the supplies of grain, put him to great distress. Sindhia, seeing Najíbu-d daula reduced to extremities, sent for 'Imádu-l Mulk from Sháh-Jahánábád, in order to complete the measures for chastising him.
'Imádu-l Mulk, suspicious of the Emperor, and knowing that 'Intizámu-d daula Khán-khánán was his chief adviser, murdered that noble in the very act of saying his prayers. He then treacherously sent Mahdí 'Alí Khán, of Kashmír, to the Emperor, to report that a most saintly darwesh from Kandahár had arrived in the city, who was lodged in the kotila of Fíroz Sháh, and that he was well worth seeing. The Emperor, who was very fond of visiting fakírs, and particularly such a one as had come from the country of Ahmad Sháh, became extremely desirous of seeing him, and went to him almost unattended. When he reached the appointed place, he stopped at the door of the chamber where his assassins were concealed, and Mahdí 'Alí Khán relieved him of the sword which he had in his hand, and put it by. As he entered the house, the curtains were down and fastened to the ground. Mirzá Bábar, son of I'zzu-d dín, son-in-law of the Emperor, beginning to suspect foul play, drew his sword, and wounded several of the conspirators. Upon this the myrmidons of 'Imádu-l Mulk surrounded and took him prisoner; and having taken the sword from him, placed him in a palankín, and sent him back to the royal prison. Some evil-minded Mughals were expecting the Emperor in the chamber, and when they found him there unattended and alone, they jumped up, and inflicting on him repeated wounds with their daggers, brought him to the ground, and then threw his body out of the window, stripped off all the clothes, and left the corpse stark naked. After lying on the ground for eighteen hours, his body was taken up by order of Mahdí 'Alí Khán, and buried in the sepulchre of the Emperor Humáyún.* This tragedy occurred on Thursday, the 20th of Rabí'u-s sání, 1173 A.H. (30th Nov. 1759 A.D.). On the same day a youth named Muhíu-l Millat, son of Muhíu-s Sunnat, son of Kám Bakhsh, was raised to the throne with the title of Sháh Jahán II.
'Imádu-l Mulk hastened to Sakartál, and came to an understanding with Najíbu-d daula. In the mean time, the report of Ahmad Sháh Durrání's invasion spread among the people. 'Imádu-l Mulk, in fear of his life, saw no other means of safety than in seeking the protection of Súraj Mal, and accordingly departed without delay for that chief's territory. Please God, an account of the arrival of Sháh Durrání shall be related hereafter.
It is a custom among the Hindús that at the holí festival they throw dust upon each other, and indulge in practical jokes. On the 14th of Jumáda-l awwal, in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of His Majesty Sháh 'Álam, when this festival occurred, Ánand Ráo Narsí dressed up a person in fine garments to represent the Emperor, and applied long false mustaches and a beard to his lips and chin. The person was placed on an old bedstead, with a lad in his arms, in the dress of a woman, to represent the Emperor's daughter, whom he very tenderly loved, and always kept in his presence when he went out in a litter or on an elephant. The bedstead was carried on the shoulders of four men, and before it went several persons of low caste in the habit of the Emperor's attendants, with clubs, umbrellas, and other insignia of royalty in their hands. In this manner they proceeded in regular procession, beating drums, and surrounded by a multitude of spectators. They passed by the Jahán-numá palace, where the Emperor was sitting. This great insolence, however, excited no indignation in His Majesty's noble mind; but, on the contrary, he ordered a reward of five hundred rupees to be given to those persons. Sháh Nizámu-d dín, who was an enemy of Ánand Ráo, availed himself of the opportunity, and having succeeded in kindling the Emperor's anger, represented the matter on His Majesty's part to Mahárája Sindhia, in whose camp Ánand Ráo resided. * * The Mahárája was highly incensed on being informed of this disrespectful and impudent proceeding, and immediately ordered that the tents of Ánand Ráo should be plundered, and that he should be sent to Ráj Muhammad, dárogha of artillery. No sooner was the order passed than his tents and all his property were given up to plunder, and he himself was seized and placed in front of a gun. The Emperor, on being informed of the orders which the Mahárája had given, sent one of his eunuchs to tell the Mahárája that His Majesty was pleased to pardon the offender; but that he hoped, as a warning to others, the Mahárája would turn him out of his camp. Orders were accordingly given by the Mahárája, he was called back from the gun, and his life was spared; but he was disgraced and banished from the presence. Ánand Ráo remained concealed in the camp for a few days, and after having collected his property which was left from the spoil, he went away to Ujjain.
[When Ghulám Kádir Khán and Isma'íl Beg Khán had made their way into Dehlí by the contrivance of Názir Mansúr 'Alí Khán and the connivance of the Mughal chiefs, Ghulám Kádir assumed the chief authority. He began to oppress the citizens, and demanded money from the Emperor. These proceedings made the Emperor very angry. Ghulám Kádir went to the Emperor to ask him for the pay of the soldiers, and for some supplies to maintain his own dignity. The Emperor replied that if he possessed any money, he would not withhold it. Ghulám Kádir replied that one of the Princes must be placed in his charge, so that he might go and fight with the Mahrattas. The Emperor told him to go out of the city to hunt, and that Sulaimán Shukoh should then be sent to him. He accordingly departed, and fixed his head-quarters near the kotila of Fíroz Sháh. Afterwards the Prince was mounted on an elephant and was brought with his retinue to the camp. The officers presented their nazars, and five hundred horse, a regiment of foot and four guns were placed at the door of the Prince's tent as a guard. * *
Ghulám Kádir proceeded to the palace, * * and urged the Emperor to procure money from somewhere and to give it to him for the pay of the troops. At this juncture a message was brought to Ghulám Kádir from the Malika Zamániya (the queen dowager), offering to give him ten lacs of rupees, on condition of Sháh 'Álam being deposed, of Prince Bedár Bakht, son of the late Emperor Ahmad Sháh, being raised to the throne, and the fort and city being placed in his possession. Ghulám Kádir agreed to this, and confirmed the plan by his word and covenant, expressing his devotion to the house of Bábar. On the 26th Shawwál, 1202 A.H. (31st July, 1788 A.D.), he went to the palace, attended by five hundred men, to demand money for the soldiers, and to express his fears of the Emperor. On the Emperor inquiring what he meant, he replied that his enemies and detractors had raised suspicions against him in the Emperor's mind, and to guard against this he required that the charge of the palace should be placed in the hands of his own people, so that he might come and state freely what he had to represent. The Emperor replied that he seemed destined to be the ruin of the royal house, and that his name would stand infamous on the page of history. Názir Mansúr 'Alí Khán observed that Isma'íl Khán was present with a statement and agreement, and that (for confirming it by oath) he had also brought the Holy Kurán. He was called forward, the compact was confirmed upon the Holy Kurán, under the signatures of himself and Ghulám Kádir. The Emperor said, “I place myself under the protection of the Kurán, and submit to your wishes.”