Afghanistan Times
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By Akhtar M. Nikzad-KABUL: The ninth death anniversary of King Mohammad Zaher Shah was commemorated with due solemnity by Former President Hamid Karzai, Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, and the late king’s relatives here in Kabul at Tap-e-Nader Khan.
In the memorial ceremony, Hamid Karzai laid floral wreath on the grave of Zaher Shah and offered Fateha. Many former and current high-ranking government officials were present on the occasion.
Speaking at the ceremony, Abdullah Abdullah called late king Mohammad Zaher Shah a patriot and kind-hearted rule with great love for his nation.
He said that people still remember the king for his extraordinary rule.
“The Father of the Nation was an impartial political figure which never interfered in government affairs after collapse of the Taliban regime, but instead he tried hard for national unity, peace and stability of the country,” the chief executive recalled.
Abdullah admired King Shah’s viewpoint about Mujahideen Resistance Front against the Taliban insurgents, and pointed out that it would never be forgotten.
Former President Hamid Karzai in a statement called late King Mohammad Zarher Shah a peace-loving and democrat figure who worked tirelessly to strengthen the national unity.
He called the 1965 Constitution as the beginning of democracy during his monarchy in the country, adding that fostering national unity was one of his another achievements.
President Ashraf Ghani in a statement said that the late king was a supporter of peace and stability in his 40 years of reign in the country.
Mohammad Zaher Shah was born in 1914 and ruled Afghanistan for 40 years. He was barely 15 years old when his father came to power. On November 8, 1933, at the age of 19, he became the king following the assassination of his father, Mohammed Nader Shah.
He reigned for four decades, from 1933 to 1973, when he was ousted by a military coup. Upon his return from exile in 2002, he earned the sobriquet of the ‘Father of the Nation’ in 2002.
He passed away in 2007 in Italy at the age of 93. He was buried on Tapa-e-Nader Khan in Kabul.
