Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT-KABUL: Death anniversary of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Bacha Khan, was observed on Tuesday in the capital city of Nangarhar province.
Bacha Khan’s daughter-in-law Naseem Wali Khan and scores of Afghan officials, Awami National Party (ANP) members and Pashtuns’ rights activists paid rich tribute to the political and social reformist in Jalalabad. Naseem Wali Khan also visited the tomb of the proponent of non-violence, who languished in jails for over 31 years or lived in exile. She and others offered Fatiha on his grave.
“Bacha Khan sent 33 years behind bars or lived in exile because he was promoting the culture of nonviolence and tried to unite all Pashtuns,” Naseem Wali said.
She said that Bacha Khan is not alive but his philosophy and ideology are still breathing.
He wanted to be buried in Nangarhar to keep all Pashtuns united— stranding on both sides of the Durand Line, Naseem Wali added.
She criticized the United Nations for establishing a prize as a tribute to Nelson Mandela. She said that Bacha Khan spent six years more in jail and exile than Mandela for preaching nonviolence.
Deputy Governor of Nangarhar, Muhammad Hanif Gardiwal, welcomed family members of late Abdul Ghaffar Khan and ANP workers in the province.
“Fakhr-e-Afghan went to hujras [public guest houses] to bring awareness to Pashtuns. He tried to educate and unite all Pashtuns,” he said.
Later, the provincial governor Ataulah Ludin welcomed the ANP leaders at the Governor House and said that Pashtuns would remain united forever.
He urged the ANP leaders to resolve problems faced by Afghan refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
