PESHAWAR, Jan 26: The NWFP lawmakers on Thursday paid homage to the veteran politician and founding president of the Awami National Party, Khan Abdul Wali Khan, and observed that the fraternity of politicians had lost a great fellow.

Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan suspended the house proceedings for two days to mourn the death of the noted nationalist leader and opponent of the establishment.

Anwar Kamal Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) said the province had lost a fatherly figure, who had fought all his life for his political ideals and suffered state repression in the course.

Irrigation and Power Minister Hafiz Akhtar Ali led Fatiha for the departed soul.

Abdul Akbar Khan of the Pakistan People’s Party (Parliamentarians) said: “Today, all eyes are full of tears and our heads are bowed in honour of Wali Khan.”

Pir Mohammad Khan of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal pointed out that Wali Khan had launched the struggle for provincial autonomy 60 years ago and faced all sorts of suffering, but never bowed before dictators and their lackeys.

Despite all odds, he said, Wali Khan never uttered a single word against the solidarity of the country.

He said that on the disintegration of Soviet Union Wali Khan described it as a defeat of the Muslim world but leaders of religious parties dubbed him as a Russian agent. Today, he added, everybody realized that disappearance of the Soviet Union being a balancing power had caused much loss to the Muslim world.

Saeed Ahmed Khan of the PML-Q said Wali Khan had inculcated a sense of national rights, unity and understanding among Pukhtuns. He asked the government to declare three days of mourning.

Opposition leader Shahzada Gustasip Khan said Wali Khan was a great leader of Asia, who along with his great father underwent state suppression before and after the partition of the subcontinent.

Israrullah Khan of the PPP-Sherpao, Dr Salim from Swab, Felix Innocent, Maulana Mujahid al-Hussani, Rifat Akbar Swati and Qalb-i-Hasan of the ANP also expressed similar views.