In 1471, he led the conquest of forts of the Gajapati Empire after he had been sent to influence a succession conflict in the state, and was given governorship over the Bahmani province of Telangana.
As the leader of the Deccani faction in the conflict between them and those not native to South Asia, he helped plot the execution of Mahmud Gawan in 1481, the foreign prime minister at the time and Malik Hasan's predecessor.
Varying accounts of his true origin explain why his family was in the region; one claims that they were escaping persecution perpetrated by Muslims, while another purports they were fleeing their native land from famine.
[24][25] Malik Hasan likewise was accompanied by 500 armed men, and in the joint procession Yusuf controversially took priority over the prime minister, but no further conflict came of this.
[28][29] Malik Hasan's success in seizing this role led Yusuf to take control of the taraf of Bijapur, where he would later establish a sultanate on the province's territory.
[30] Throughout his ministership, Malik Hasan exerted de facto control over the state and its affairs, with Mahmood Shah serving as a puppet under him.
[34][36] Malik Hasan was intensely disliked by many nobles of the sultanate, both of his own faction for his role in Mahmud Gawan's death and the foreigners for his policy against them.
[32] In 1486, four years into his ministership, a conspiracy akin to the one he had sown against Mahmud was developed against him: following the death of the provincial governor of Warangal, a Bahmani noble temporarily seized control of both Bahmani provinces comprising Telangana; Malik Hasan successfully made the noble relinquish control of his captured territory, but while away from Bidar, a conspiracy against him was formed, upon which the sultan was convinced to issue a decree to have Malik Hasan put to death.
[8] Developments in Bidar occurred as well after Malik Hasan's death, where he was succeeded by the foreigner Qasim Barid I as prime minister, who further estranged Ahmad and the Deccanis.