A veteran politician and senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), Haji Muhammad Adeel, passed away on Friday morning due to kidney failure. Funeral prayers for the deceased ANP leader were held at Peshawar‘s Jinnah Park.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif expressed his heartfelt condolences on the death of the senior. Sympathising deeply with the deceased’s family, the Prime Minister prayed for the departed soul to be blessed with eternal peace and courage for the family to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.
He also praised the contributions and services of the late politician for strengthening democracy in the country. “He will be dearly missed by all of us”, he added.
Haji Muhammad Adeel served his party in the Senate from March 2009 to March 2015. He frequently represented the ANP on various platforms and used to defend his party’s stance vehemently.
He was elected as a member of the provincial assembly NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in 1990, 1993, and 1997. He served as the finance minister in the provincial cabinet in 1993 and was appointed deputy speaker of the provincial assembly from 1997 to 1999. He also represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the National Finance Commission of Pakistan.
Haji Muhammad Adeel served his party in various positions, including being the parliamentary leader of the party in the Senate, senior vice president of ANP, chairman election commission of ANP, and a member of central and provincial executive committees.
The ANP leader was also famous for his interest in regional issues and fine arts. He remained a member of the Pakistan India People Forum for Peace and Democracy National Executive Committee. He also served as vice president of the Abaseen Arts Council and president of the Fine Arts Society, Edwards College.
Haji Muhammad Adeel, a Hindko speaker, was from a family of anti-imperialists, being the son of Hakeem Abdul Jalil, who was actively involved in the non-violence movement Khudai Khidmatgar against the British Empire in the subcontinent and was the president of All India National Congress Committee Peshawar District. Hakim Abdul Jalil was also a close colleague of Bacha Khan and Mahatama Gandhi besides being a member of the Congress Central Working Committee.
