The Rawalpindi and Islamabad chapters of the Awami National Party (ANP) observed the death anniversaries, on Friday, of their leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Bacha Khan and his son Khan Abdul Wali Khan.
The party members aimed to continue fighting for the survival of the Pukhtun nation. The ANP members, led by the party’s central leaders, including Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Senator Haji Adeel and MNA Bushra Gohar, gathered at the Rawalpindi Press Club. The party leaders paid rich tribute to the struggle of their veteran leaders and said they ruled the hearts and minds of many people. They stated that as Bacha Khan’s supporters, their party would fight violence with non-violence. Senator Bilour said his party had sacrificed hundreds of its workers for peace for Pukhtun land and will continue to do so in the future. He also paid tribute to Bacha Khan and Wali Khan and said both the leaders were remembered throughout the world.
The senator added: “Identification for Pukhtun land, control over its resources and the Kalabagh dam issue were the main objectives of his party which have been achieved during the present rule.”
Senator Adeel said Bacha Khan and Wali Khan played a pivotal role in guiding Pakhtuns in their fight for independence from the British Raj. He said that both the leaders also struggled for democracy in Pakistan and suffered due to their beliefs. Senator Gohar said the ANP had always backed democracy and struggled against the un-constitutional forces: “Both the leaders stood firm for the rights of all the people and raised their voices against militancy and religious extremism,” she added.
ANP Punjab chapter president Arif Azhar, ANP Islamabad chapter president Riaz Bangash, ANP Rawalpindi chapter president Jehangir Khan, Gul Nasir and other party leaders and workers attended the meeting in large numbers.
