The diehard stalwart of Pakistan People’s Party and former Speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Abdul Akbar Khan passed away after suffering from prolonged illness on Thursday morning.
Belonging to village Speenkai near Rustam town of Mardan district, Abdul Akbar Khan was not only counted amongst dedicated and sincere PPP stalwarts but he had accredited himself as an experienced parliamentarian. He was also known for his expertise on financial matters and had helped a lot in achievements made for the province through forums like National Finance Commission (NFC) and Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Abdul Akbar Khan around 68, was MA LLB at education and first elected as MPA in 1977 elections. However, due to agitation by opposition alliance, Pakistan National Alliance, the parliament came into being in March 1977 elections was dissolved with the imposition of Martial Law on July 5, 1977. For the second time, he was elected to the provincial assembly in 1988 general elections. He had served the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly as its Deputy Speaker in 1988-1990.
Abdul Akbar Khan had retained the seat in 1990 elections and was one amongst eight elected MPA’s on PPP ticket from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Similar was his position in 1993, 1997, 2002 and 2008 general elections. He had served as Minister in late Mir Afzal Khan cabinet after his (Mir Afzal Khan) revolt against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1993. Similarly, he had served as Speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in 1994-1996 when Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao succeeded in toppling of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Awami National Party coalition government headed by Sahibzada Pir Sabir Shah government.
In 2008 general elections, Abdul Akbar Khan elected on both National and Provincial Assembly seats. He, however, vacated the National Assembly seat which later on grabbed by party’s former provincial president Khan Zada Khan.
Later in the evening, Abdul Akbar Khan was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard at village Speenkai Mardan. His Namaz-i- Janaza was attended by thousands of people. A large number of PPP leaders all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also attended the funeral of late Abdul Akbar Khan. He left behind a son and two widows to mourn his sad demise.
Considered a vocal parliamentarian, Abdul Akbar Khan was counted amongst expert on constitutional matters. He had represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in various National and International level parliamentarian conferences. He was familiar to late PPP founder Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and late Prime Minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. He remained PPP Central Executive Committee member for a long time. He was one amongst those PPP stalwarts and leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who refused to support Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao after the disintegration of the party in 1997-98.
