New Elected councillor shot dead by unidentified assailants in Charsadda

A newly elected general counselor was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Charsadda while two others were injured.

Speaking from district headquarters hospital, police official, Mazullah Khan told The Express Tribune that councilor Attaul Haq was heading home in his Suzuki van when miscreants targeted him near Habibullah Korona area, a kilometer east of the city.

Haq died on the spot while two others, Abdullah and Jan Alam were injured. They were shifted to the district hospital for treatment.

The official added that while a case had not yet been registered, but an investigation had been launched to determine whether it was an incident of terrorism or personal enmity.

Two picnickers drown in Kabul River on Eid

CHARSADDA: Two picnickers drowned in Kabul River at Sardaryab point, the tourists resort at Charsadda district, during Eid holidays.

Local sources said that Nasir Iqbal, a resident of Gujrat in Punjab who was working at a sweets shop in Charsadda, had gone to Sardaryab for picnic on Sunday. He was swimming in the river when the gushing water swept him away. His body was retrieved by the divers from the river at Nowshera point after three days.

On Monday, three students identified as Shehzad Yousaf, Muhammad Asifuddin and Shehzad Ali, residents of Chitral, came to Sardaryab for picnic. They were swimming in the river when the speeding currents swept them away.

However, the local divers rescued Shehzad Yousaf and Muhammad Asifuddin while the search for the body of Shehzad Ali was still going on.Belonged to Washich village of Torkhow drowned Shehzad, son of Al-Waiz Sam Saam, had settled in Booni. He was a fresh graduate of LUMS or Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore.

Pakistan: We Will Survive! Insha Allah

Pakistan: We Will Survive! Insha Allah by Charsadda KPK - Pushkalavati 

Palai Dam Charsadda

Lets Explore the Beauty of Charsadda.

Da Palai Dam. 
Alaka Cha Cha Da Zai Ledale de Charsadda KPK - Pushkalavati ke

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CHARSADDA HOSPITAL CASE PKG SARTAJ KHAN CHARSADDA

Qaumi Watan Party: Formation & challenges

Himayatullah Yaqubi

The political landscape in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is undoubtedly very fluid and irregular due to a number of factors. The most significant dynamics influencing the political inclinations of the public in the province are its geographical location and perpetual external involvement in the region. Recent political trends have largely been changed by the ongoing war on terror penetrating by USA led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces against the Taliban and its allies.
For that matter the Pakhtuns-the predominant ethnic group of the province happened to be one of the most oppressed nations of the world. It witnessed the Russian invasion in 1978 which killed thousands of the inhabitants of the area. It was ideological orientation and socialist trends that Awami National Party-the traditional nationalist political organization of the province, ignored the miseries and very strong anti-Russian sentiments of the Pakhtuns, and passionately supported the Russian invasion. Contrary to their political positioning the nationalists once again extended gesture of goodwill and friendship to the American forces when they marched against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Along with the militant Islamist, thousands of Pakhtuns are becoming the victim of US bombardment, drone strikes, Taliban attacks and incessant operation against the insurgents. In the midst of the war millions of the Pakhtuns have been displaced. The unending warfare in the region and the opportunist policy of the outmoded nationalist parties has virtually increased the weariness of the people in the province. Consequently, the political scenario witnesses the emergence of new trends and challenges which could be seen from reasonably different perspective. In the process the people were gradually dismayed by the performance of the so-called nationalist parties due to their ignorance of public opinion. The common masses look for an alternative political force for addressing their grievances and broad-based issues. Hence, the emergence of the Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP), the leadership of which is claiming the true representative nationalist party of the Pakhtuns in Pakistan. It based the party program on the progressive political ideas of Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao, elder brother of Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. He remained the federal minister for petroleum, natural resources, youngest governor and senior minister of the province during the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto regime.
Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao, known as an ideologue and Shaheed-i-Watan to most of the political workers of the QWP was an outstanding Pakhtun progressive politician, intellectual and social worker. He initiated an enlightened and progressive vision for the Pakhtuns residing in Pakistan. The title of Shaheed-i-Watan was accorded to him by thousands of his followers and those people who thought that he was not only a political leader par-excellence but also visualized a bright and prosperous future for the downtrodden masses. The realization of his being an outstanding politician and visionary does not come as a sudden phenomenon because his services were often themes of hujra discussion among the Pakhtun elders, intellectuals, Ulama, peasants, students and common men and women. The new title which the Pakhtuns bestowed on him emanated from this perception which is continuously developing day by day. The general Pakhtun intelligentsia is deeply concerned about their present predicament. The practicable and politically all-encompassing vision of Hayat Sherpao is attracting a large of number of them to redefine their objectives in the given circumstances. This gradual realization is interpreted by political analysts as an attempt to create an alternative Pakhtun nationalist political force in the shape of QWP.
QWP was formerly called Pakistan Peoples Party–Sherpao (PPP–S) a split away group from the Pakistan Peoples Party just before the 2002 general elections. PPP–S was named after its leader Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. Differences had cropped up between PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao in 1999 and then the latter decided to design his own political organization. In October 2012, PPP-S was renamed as QWP when it changed its political agenda and declared itself as a Pakhtun neo-nationalist party. Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, by establishing the party has visualized a prosperous and bright future for the Pakhtuns in the political program of the QWP. He very shrewdly builds on the flaws of the traditionalists and capitalized on their consistent irrational policies. Aftab Sherpao remained among the masses and bravely faced the wretched law and order situation when the Pakhtuns were facing worst kind of terrorism in their history. Several times he was targeted by suicide attacks, having lost his near relatives and party workers. He bravely faces the anger of those whose near and dear ones have lost their lives in the attacks perpetrated to remove him from the scene. Unlike other nationalist leaders, however, Sherpao never fled from the sight and give the people a sense of a political leader having strong nerve who could ready to sacrifice his life for the progress of his own nation. He gladdened the injured and participated in the Nimaz Janaza of the deceased. Despite his own injuries and threats of more attacks, he went to the houses of many other grieving families to condole with them. From this moment on, it would be a yardstick by which politicians were to be judged that whether they possess the courage to face the threats and solve it once for all.
By remaining among the masses in the toughest hour of trials, Sherpao remained quite successful to develop a perception of nearness among the masses. He infused in their hearts a concept of leadership who shares both their mourning and cheerfulness. One may rightly designate it a charismatic dimension of his leadership style. It gradually increased his popularity among the Pakhtuns and projected him a capable leader who possesses the quality of deliverance at the demanding times. Moreover, his long association with the people of the province and his continuous endeavors for public welfare transformed the perception of his colleagues and workers for making the party more vibrant with a neo-nationalist program. The party appealing manifesto and sensational electoral strategy to counter other contenders has largely been successful because of its relatively better performance in the 2013 elections.
Accordingly the name and manifesto of the QWP were formally changed on October 17, 2012. The tri-color flag was also changed by replacing the green color with white. Aftab Ahmad Sherpao believes QWP will work for rights of the Pakhtuns of the entire region, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Afghanistan, Karachi, Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The challenging environment confronted by the Pakhtuns is because of the flawed policies of the previous governments. Owing to the absence of a tangible and pragmatic policy over fifty thousand people were killed and millions others injured in acts of subversion over the last several years. QWP has asked the federal government to seek a viable solution to the problems being faced by the Pakhtuns and take steps to restore sustainable peace in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
At the legislative elections of 20 October 2002, the then Pakistan Peoples Party–Sherpao won 2 out of 272 elected members. In the 2008 general election, the party won only 1 seat in the National Assembly, in which the party leader Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao was successful. On the other hand, it won 6 provincial assembly seats, all in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The 2013 elections mark a record for Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and the party because it contested the elections with a Pakhtun nationalist political agenda. His success in the NA-8 Charssadda is the eighth successive electoral victory since 1977. During the elections the party branded itself as a nationalist force challenging the traditionalist ideological orientation of the ANP. The party leadership shrewdly out-maneuvered other nationalist political parties by capitalizing on their flawed policies. The party improved its position through making headway among the strong hold of ANP in a number of areas. It secured 10 seats in total, of which 8 were directly elected. This made it the fourth largest party in the province, and it joined a coalition government led by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI). With support in the Pakhtun mainland like Peshawar, Mardan, Charssadda, Swabi, Buner and Dir, the party would pose a huge challenge for other contenders in the upcoming elections. Given the political program of the party, it can be argued here that it could neither be the spoiler, costing the ANP crucial votes nor the king maker, but a challenging nationalist force because of its pro-Pakhtun agenda. The joining of so many well-known retired bureaucrats, lawyers, educationists and other personalities is a clear indication of the QWP decisiveness in the provincial politics.

Four killed, dozens injured as KP braves floods

CHARSADDA/PESHAWAR/GILGIT/NOSHEHRA - At least four people, including two children, were killed and more than three dozen others were injured in separate rain-related incidents in various areas of Charsadda district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday.
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Strong wind and heavy rain killed five-year-old Raheela and eight-year-old Mahnoor while 35 others were injured in separate incidents in various areas of Charsadda district.

In Geedarrwan area of Hangu, the roof of a dilapidated house caved in resulting in the deaths of two people, including a minor and left three others injured.

Meanwhile, strong wind blew off roofs of various houses, cattle sheds and uprooted trees due to which five people were injured besides massive property losses.
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The rain and wind gusts also disrupted the power supply and communication links creating difficulties for the dwellers.

Flooding rainwater also washed away lands and some houses situated near the banks.

According to reports, people living near the river banks have started shifting to safer areas over the fear of looming flood.

Around 400 families have been affected due to floods in Jala Bela‚ Bela Niko Khan‚ Mian Gujar and Islamabad Korona villages in Peshawar district.

Standing crops in the area have also been damaged due to flood in Shah Alam and NagumanRivers.

Protective dykes are being strengthened to protect these villages from further flood devastation.

According to Peshawar Flood Cell‚ River Kabul at Warsak and Nowshera is in high flood. PanjkoraRiver at Dir‚ ShahAlamRiver at Takhtabad and NagumanRiver at Charsadda Road are in medium flood whereas SwatRiver at Khawazakhela and Amandara is in low flood. IndusRiver at Tarbela is also in low flood.

Protective dykes at Jamat‚ Dalazak and Garhi Mohkam Shah villages in Charsadda district are being strengthened which were damaged due to diversion of River Kabul.

A part of the road near Kalam has been washed away by the floods due to which traffic to Kalam Bazaar has been suspended. Efforts are underway to restore it.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak has directed the authorities to be ready for any kind of eventuality.
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KP Senior Minister Sikandar Sherpao also visited various areas in Charsadda and directed the local administration to take immediate preventive steps in the wake of possible floods.

Meanwhile, flashfloods in Kargah Nullah have played havoc in several areas of Gilgit, completely destroying over two dozen houses, water channels and the main avenue. Acres of agricultural land have also been completely submerged.

The army has started relief activities and has undertaken construction work on Gilgit-Gadar linked bridge.


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PPP and ANP neck and neck in Peshawar valley’s five districts

PPP and ANP neck and neck in Peshawar valley’s five districts
Allies in previous coalition government, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Awami National Party would contest polls neck-in-neck in five central districts of Peshawar valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Photo: http://www.awaminationalparty.org

Though in recent past, the ANP remained main beneficiary in Peshawar, Charsadda and Swabi districts, whereas the PPP proved itself a superior force in Mardan and Nowshera. But now the situation seems tough for the PPP in both Mardan and Nowshera districts due to internal rifts. However, in Peshawar, the PPP improved its position in urban areas but facing hardships in rural areas.
It seems that candidates from three main contenders the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, the Pakistan Muslim League-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are likely to imbalance the situation. On security grounds, the ANP leadership is facing multiple problems, which could help the JUI-F, PML-N and PTI of jubilating the opportunities. Whereas, seat-to-seat adjustment in two districts goes against the ANP interests.

Photo: http://www.pakistanileaders.com.pk

In 2008 general elections, the ANP grabbed six of 13 national and 21 of 36 provincial assembly seats in all five districts of Peshawar valley. Whereas the PPP become runner up with getting four national and nine provincial assembly seats. Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao's Pakistan People’s Party now renamed as the Qaumi Watan Party had won a single national and three provincial assembly seats. The JUI-F got one each seat of national and provincial assembly seats. An independent elected to National Assembly from Swabi and two (independents) from same district to KP Assembly. All these three independents remained in association with the PPP along with their counterpart from PPP-S.



Photo:

Maulana Muhammad Gohar Shah

http://elections.com.pk



Comparing to 2008, the situation is different in all five districts. ANP leadership is facing severe threats of terrorist attacks, but PPP in previous couple of years had lost association of its certain heavy weights.
Remaining political forces made stable their position in the region. Yaseen Khalil of PPP from Peshawar, Pervez Khattak and Iqbal Hussain Khattak of PPP-S from Nowshera, who later became part of PPP have joined the PTI. Former district nazim Daud Khattak and Hajj Khan Khattak from Nowshera have joined the ANP. ANPs Hasham Babar had joined the PTI, but now contesting polls as independent candidate.
Ex-provincial minister Khawaja Mohammad Khan of ANP first switched to ANP and later to PTI and now contesting on a PML-N ticket. Some main PPP leaders and stalwarts from Mardan joined PTI and PML-N. Amongst them Muazzam Hoti and Iftikhar Mohmand are prominent. The independents who were elected from Swabi are now facing hardships and their instability is going to benefit ANP and QWP.
Despite severe terrorist threats, Bilour's credibility is on the rise in Peshawar. Like 1990, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour is facing a heavyweight like Imran Khan in NA-1 Peshawar. In 1990, he defeated Benazir Bhutto from this constituency. However in 90, Bilour was enjoying support of the PML-N. This time he has no visible support of other political forces, but it seems that he could grab sympathies of Peshawar in return of sacrifices being rendered by the family for peace and stability.
Position of ANP candidates on three provincial assembly constituencies seems satisfactory as elder Bilour is accompanied by younger Bilours, Ghazanfar Bilour from PK-1 and Barrister Haroon Bilour from PK-3. On a third seat ANP has fielded Malik Ghulam Mustafa against PPP provincial president Zahir Ali Shah. People of Peshawar observe that Bilours and Saadat's have entered into a compromise by fielding weak candidates like Zulfikar Afghani and Malik Ghulam Mustafa. The PML-N, PTI and JUI-F have also fielded candidates on these constituencies but their position seems weak. Former PPP minister Arbab Alamgir Khalil is contesting from a national and a provincial assembly seat. He is being challenged by ANP's Arbab Najibullah on national and Arbab Tahir on provincial assembly seats. No one could neglect the fact that both Najib and Tahir are considered popular but their position was destabilized by former MPA Ateefur Rahman who revolted against the parliamentary board’s decision regarding ticket and now contesting on both national and provincial assembly seats. Alamgir seems main beneficiary of such rifts amongst the ranks of ANP. Position of ex-MNA Noor Alam Khan who is contesting from N- 3 seems satisfactory due to rifts and differences amongst ANP. However, his rivals are PML-N candidate Iqbal Zafar Jaghra, JUI-F’s Haji Ghulam Ali and PTI's Sajid Nawaz.
In NA-4 from where ANP’s Arbab Zahir remained undefeatable is no more contesting as he was replaced by Arbab Ayub Jan. Ayub barring 2002, remained victorious on provincial assembly seat since 1985, is now contesting on a National Assembly seat. He is facing ex-bureaucrat Gulzar Khan of PTI, Arbab Kamal of JUI-F, Nasar Musazai of PML-N and Sabir Hussain Awan of the Jamaat Islami. ANP has fielded all three former MPAs on provincial assembly seats. However, the ANP nominees would go through a tough time in all four constituencies.
Though the ANP had improved its position in Charsadda and Swabi, but the recent seat-to-seat adjustment between JUI-F and QWP had made the situation difficult. Similar is the position in Mardan where PPP, PML-N) and JUI-F have fielded strong candidates. ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan is contesting from his native NA seat in Charsadda. He is facing Gohar Shah of JUI-F and QWP. In fact, it is not first ever alliance between the two parties against ANP. Since 1988, Aftab Sherpao is making such alliances against ANP in Charsadda but this time he is lacking association of ex-federal minister Nisar Mohammad Khan, ex-provincial minister Haji Ihsan Ullah Khan and other individuals. Some of Nisar Khan's family members are contesting on PTI tickets and other on JI tickets. Whereas Ihsan is contesting elections on a PML-N ticket. It is likelt that real contest will be between ANP and QWP in one national and at least three provincial assembly constituencies.
Situation in Mardan is not too different from 2008 general elections where PPP, ANP and JUI-F are facing each others on all three national and eight provincial assembly seats. However, slipping of ex-federal minister Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti to PML-N had improved the party’s position.

Khwaja Muhammad Khan Hoti (Dec 2011) – File Photo

http://www.pakimag.com

Former KP chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti is ANP candidate on national and provincial assembly seats from Mardan city. He is facing Khawaja Hoti on national and his son Omar Farooq on the provincial assembly seat. Former PPP MNA Khanzada and JUI-F candidate Qasam are making attempts for retaining their national assembly seats from remaining two constituencies. So far PPP, JUI-F and ANP leadership have resolved internal rifts amongst the party ranks over tickets but PML-N is going through worst kind of rifts across Mardan.
Like previous elections, atmosphere is favourable for ANP in Swabi district. Though ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan had faced defeat on National Assembly seat in 2008, but the party won one national and four provincial assembly seats. The ANP had grabbed three out of six provincial assembly seats in 2002 general elections. Like Charsadda, there is seat-to-seat adjustment between JUI-F and QWP in Swabi, but the JUI-F is not only ahead with internal revolt, but its candidates are also facing joint candidates of Islamic Solidarity Council, especially JI and Jumaat Ishaat commonly known as Panjpeeris on all seats. The one time strong Awami Jamhoori Ittehad, commonly known as Tarakwaal Group is also facing rifts and divisions. The PML-N is considered strong on one national and one provincial assembly seat but recently one of the leaguers joined the JUI-F. The PPP has no existence in certain parts of Swabi.
Unlike Peshawar and Mardan, PPP is going through a tough time in its Nowshera stronghold from where Engineer Tariq is trying to retain his national and Liaqat Shabab his provincial assembly seats. In 2008polls, there was an undeclared seat-to-seat adjustment between the PPP and PPP-S (now QWP). But there is no existence of QWP as Pervez Khattak along with associates had joined PTI. The PPP had also lost Daud Khattak, Hajj Mohammad and Shahid Khattak like heavy weights. Whereas the ANP has made its position stable in Nowshera.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain
Photo: http://pakistan.onepakistan.com.pk

Ex-information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain is also in the run on a provincial assembly seat from Nowshera and is facing hardships in election campaign. Asif Luqman Qazi is also contesting on national and provincial assembly seats from Nowshera. However, people from this district are feeling absence of late Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Ajmal Khattak who are no more in the world.

ANP’s Farooq Khan Targetted in Charsadda.



Photo by http://www.demotix.com/



CHARSADDA: Local Awami National Party (ANP) leader Farooq Khan was targeted in a bomb blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda region on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.
The blast occurred in the Sardehri area of Charsadda near the vehicle carrying Khan who escaped unhurt.
Khan is the Vice-President of ANP in the constituency of PK-17 and is also the coordinator of ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan’s election campaign.

http://dawn.com/2013/04/17/blast-targets-anps-farooq-khan-in-charsadda/

Illegal possession of Charsadda Press Club Journalists threaten to stage sit-in

Muflis Durrani
CHARSADDA: Muhammadzai Union of Journalists, Gandhera Union of Journalists and Charsadda Union of Journalists on Monday gave the deadline of 24 hours to concerned authorities to end unconstitutional office bearers and illegal possession of the press club otherwise they would stage a sit-in at Peshawar High Court and Chief Minister House.
The protest rally staged sit-in outside the office of Charsadda Deputy Commissioner Syed Zafar Ali Shah.
Traders, lawyers, students, civil society, social workers, JI PK-18 contestant Major Akbar Khan, PML-N Safiyat Ullah, PTI Abid Khan, ANP Ayaz Khattak, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, QWP Farman Ullah, Wapda Union Chairman Ikram Ullah and other officer bearers of Wapda were present in the protest rally.
Senior journalist Haji Saddique Ullah said that for last six months Charsadda Press Club was possessed by unconcerned people and no journalistic activities were conducted there.

Source

History: Doctor Khan Sahib not Doctor Khan Sayd or Syed



Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan (Doctor Khan Sahib)

The name of a historical person is misspelled by the locals of Utmanzai, Charsadda KPK.

They knows that historical person by the name of Doctor Khan Sayd which is misspelled of Doctor Khan Sahib. In Punjab and in some other parts of Pakistan the Pathans are calling by the name of  Khan Sahib, so here this historical person also known by the name Doctor Khan Sahib. That historical personality was Khan Abdul Jabbar Khan (born 1882 – May 9, 1958) popularly known as Dr. Khan Sahib. He was a pioneer in the Indian Independence Movement and a Pakistani politician. Here are some informations about him. Read about that historical personality and also share with your friends.

Early Life

He was born in the village of Utmanzai, near Charsadda in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. His father, Bahram Khan was a local landlord.

Khan Sahib was eight years older than his brother, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Badshah Khan).

 After matriculating from the Edwardes Mission High School in Peshawar, Khan Sahib studied at Grant Medical College, Bombay (present day Mumbai). He subsequently completed his training from St Thomas' Hospital in London. During the First World War he served in France and after the war, he joined the Indian Medical Services and was posted in Mardan with the Guides regiment. He resigned his commission in 1921, after refusing to be posted in Waziristan, where the British Indian Army was launching operations against fellow Pakhtuns.

Contribution to the Indian independence movement

In 1935, Khan Sahib was elected alongside Peer Shahenshah of Jungle Khel Kohat as representatives of the North-West Frontier Province to the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi.

 With the grant of limited self-government and announcement of provincial elections in 1937, Dr. Khan Sahib led his party to a comprehensive victory. The Frontier National Congress, an affiliate of the Indian National Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Provincial Assembly.

 Politics in Pakistan 1947 – 1954

 At the time of independence, he was the chief minister. Later he was jailed by Abdul Qayyum Khan's government. After Qayyum Khan's appointment to the Central government and the personal efforts of the Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at the time, Sardar Bahadur Khan, he along with his brother and many other activists were released.

Back in government

He joined the Central Cabinet of Muhammad Ali Bogra as Minister for Communications in 1954. This decision to join the government led to his split with his brother.

 In October 1955, he became the first Chief Minister of West Pakistan following the amalgamation of the provinces and princely states under the One Unit scheme. After differences with the ruling Muslim League over the issue of Joint versus Separate Electorates, he created the Republican Party.

 He resigned in March 1957 after the provincial budget was rejected by the assembly.

 In June, he was elected to the National Assembly representing the constituency of Quetta, the former capital of Balochistan.

 

Back in government

He was assassinated by Atta Mohammad at approximately 8:30 am on May 9, 1958. "Allama Mashriqi Maliciously Implicated in Murder Case"

 This tragic incident occurred while Dr. Khan Sahib was sitting in the garden of his son Sadullah Khan's house at 16 Aikman Road, GOR,  Lahore. He was waiting for Colonel Syed Abid Hussein of Jhang to accompany him to a meeting organized in connection with the scheduled February 1959 General Elections.

 The assailant, 30-year-old Atta Mohammad was a “Patwari” (Land Revenue Clerk) from Mianwali who had been dismissed from service two years previously. Dr. Khan Sahib was rushed to the Mayo Hospital. However the severe bleeding and grievous injuries caused by the multiple stab wounds meant that the doctors were unable to save his life.

 The body of Dr. Khan Sahib was taken to his village Utmanzai in Charsadda about 30 miles from Peshawar, where he was laid to rest by side of his English wife Mary Khan. All West Pakistan Government offices remained closed on May 9 and flags flew at half-mast in memory of Dr. Khan Sahib.

Speaking of his passing, Pakistani President Iskander Mirza said, about him that he was "the greatest Pathan of his times, a great leader and a gallant gentleman whose life-long fight in the cause of freedom, his sufferings and sacrifices for the sake of his convictions and his passion to do good to the common man were the attributes of a really great man."

 Dr. Khan Sahib was survived by three sons; Sadullah Khan (a civil engineer from Loughborough University), Obaidullah Khan (a politician) and the youngest, Dr. Hidayatullah Khan.

 After his death, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was elected to fill the vacancy arising in the National Assembly.

 It is important to note that Dr.Khan Sahib's brother, Ghaffar Khan and his Red Shirt movement stayed away from the electoral politics.

 Ghaffar Khan actively opposed the One Unit and Dr. Khan Sahib's government. No major Red Shirt leader or worker ever joined the Republican Party, founded by Dr. Khan Sahib. The Red Shirts or Khudai Khidmatgar (servants of God) joined hands with nationalist and progressive workers and leaders from both the then East Pakistan and West Pakistan to form the National Awami Party (National Peoples Party) in 1957.

Unwavering resolve: Anti-polio drive underway in Charsadda amid tight security

SHABQADAR:  District health authorities resumed their anti-polio campaign in Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda district amid strict security to ensure the safety of polio workers.

Policemen and paramilitary troops escorted polio teams to provide cover, said Assistant Commissioner Hazrat Ali, adding that some teachers have refused to take part in the immunisation drive and have been replaced by officials of the district revenue department.
Ali said disciplinary action will be taken against teachers who have refused to take part in the drive after consulting officials of the education department. “All available resources will be utilised to immunise each and every child.”
The district in-charge of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Farhad Khan said more than 200 teams have been constituted, particularly to administer vaccines to children who were left out during earlier campaigns.
The presidents of two teachers unions, Malgari Usatazan and Primary Teachers Association Shabqadar, said teachers were reluctant to take part in the drive as they were receiving threats.
“It is the responsibility of the health department to perform their duties, not of the teachers,” said Primary Teachers Association Shabqadar’s chief Fazal Hameed.
Presidents of both unions also held the view that annual examinations were just around the corner, and students will suffer if teachers participate in anti-polio campaigns.

Many volunteers opted out of anti-polio drives after nine people including a lady health worker along with her driver were gunned down in Charsadda and other parts of the country in December 2012.
As a result, health authorities were forced to suspend the campaign across the district while a clandestine immunisation drive was carried out in Peshawar earlier this month.
A police official protecting polio workers in Swabi was also shot dead by unidentified assailants during a door-to-door immunisation drive in Gullu Dheri village of Swabi district on Tuesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2013.