27 August 2004	Friday	10 Rajab 1425

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ATTOCK, Aug 26: Attock has gained importance at national and international level after the election of prime minister- designate Shaukat Aziz on a National Assembly seat from this underdeveloped district.

But the city has another significance due to the historic Attock Fort, where a number of important personalities were kept as prisoners. The fort, constructed in the 16th century, is currently under the control of the Special Services Group (SSG) personnel and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Once the most important cantonment of the Royal British Army, Attock has always proved unfavourable for prime ministers and their families. Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan was the first from Attock who was elected prime minister of the United Punjab under the British rule. He was elected from Wah, then a tehsil of Attock (Campbellpur) district.

Sir Sikandar's son, Sardar Shaukat Hayat, faced the wrath of Gen Ayub Khan for supporting Ms Fatima Jinnah. The general separated Wah, a stronghold of the Hayat family, from Attock and included it in the Rawalpindi division.

The Sharifs and Bhuttos also do not have pleasant memories of Attock. Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, is still facing corruption references at the accountability courts. He has been in jail for the last over seven years, spending almost half of the period in the Attock Fort.

Former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, who had registered dozens of cases against Mr Zardari and sent him to Attock Fort, suffered the same fate and was imprisoned in the fort after his ouster on October 12, 1999.

His brother, former Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, and elder son Hussain Nawaz were also kept in the fort in separate barracks and faced trials at the accountability court set up in the fort.

The fort is located in the middle of a jungle where deadly snakes and scorpions are common. According to reports, once a deadly snake crept into Nawaz Sharif's cell and was about to bite him when the security guard killed the venomous reptile.

Besides, renowned political figures including former NWFP chief minister Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, ex federal communications minister Azam Khan Hoti, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar have enjoyed the traditional hospitality of the historic fort.

But Shaukat Aziz will never forget Attock which crowned him after he escaped a suicidal attack in which eight people lost their lives. "He will definitely try to improve the lot of his voters by launching development projects in the area," analysts say. Perhaps, Mr Aziz will also think of putting an end to detaining political leaders in the Attock Fort, they hope.