Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada: Military man and politician
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Deceased Punjab home minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada, son of Yousaf Khanzada, hailed from Shadi Khan Village in Hazro near Attock.
Khanzada was born into a Pakhtun family belonging to the Yousufzai clan. His grandfather, Captain Ajab Khan had served as a member of the Indian Legislative Assembly. His uncle, late Captain (Retd) Taj Muhammad Khanzada had served as Member of the National/Provincial Assembly, Majlis-e-Shura.
After graduating from Islamia College Peshawar in 1966, Khanzada joined the Pakistan Army in 1967. He later took part in the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
In the military, Khanzada served as Instructor/Staff Appointment during 1974-78 and 1982-83. He also commanded the 13 Lancers Regiment from 1983-85 and was awarded the “Tamgha-e-Basalat” gallantry award in 1988. Khanzada was also among the first few soldiers to reach the Siachin Glacier in 1983.
He later moved on to serve as military attaché at the Pakistan embassy in Washington from 1992-94.
Following his retirement from the military, Khanzada entered politics and was elected as a member of the Punjab Assembly in 2002. He served as special adviser to the chief minister and also held a ministry portfolio.
He was then elected to the provincial assembly in the 2008 and 2013 elections.
Currently, he was serving as the Punjab home minister and was a key player in the province’s fight against terrorism, to which he fell victim.
Information obtained from the Punjab Assembly website.
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Comments (43) Closed
Aug 16, 2015 04:50pm
Rip. Brave soldier / son of pakistan.
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Aug 16, 2015 04:52pm
thank you for the service to this nation!!
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Aug 16, 2015 04:52pm
RIP in 12 hours to important figures have past away
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Aug 16, 2015 04:54pm
Brave person. His death will not keep us from hunting terrorist, and we will do that with his memory in our mind. Long live Pakistan.
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Aug 16, 2015 04:55pm
RIP
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Aug 16, 2015 04:56pm
Today two person left us who fought for peace and stability in this country Hamid Gul and Shuja Khanzada. May their soul rest in heaven.
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Aug 16, 2015 04:56pm
Shuja lived up to his name. Lived like a brave heart died like one
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Aug 16, 2015 05:09pm
Very Sad, indeed. It tears my heart to see this man go.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:10pm
He left us but his way of struggle is with us!!! Pak army along with our support will Inshallah defeat all terrorist.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:12pm
I believe most of Dawn readers were unaware about who is the Punjab Home Minister because his low interaction with media. He must be the man of action not man of words. RIP
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Aug 16, 2015 05:20pm
A brave man indeed but it also goes to show security is essential for such public figures. Heartfelt condolences to his family.
Instead of expression of grief and condolence in an erudite and meaningful manner, sad to see acronym 'RIP' erupts all over. Suleman Akhtar correctly said in his article here at Dawn recently: “RIP is a sad expression. It becomes even sadder when we are obliged to use it. And it’s the saddest thing in the world when we don’t even mean it. But then, the quest for meaning is the most tragic fiasco of our times”.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:23pm
@Harmony-1 RIP.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:37pm
Salute to such a brave man! A true representation of a brave Pakistani Nation, that I am proud of....from the sons of soil at APS in Peshawar to our army to our leaders!
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Aug 16, 2015 05:40pm
A massive blow. Could be the fall out of action against LeJ. A condemnable act. It means terrorists are still surviving. Action needed in cities to root out the pests. He was an outspoken and potent person against these pests. RIP Sir!
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Aug 16, 2015 05:44pm
Hameed Gul was also from Yusafzai tribe. Two very distinguished persons from the same tribe and both patriot and brave. Speaks a lot about the clan. We need to keep this tribe to our side.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:50pm
I remember this is the same person who spoke about RAW's involvement in terrorism in Pakistan...you won't win RAW!
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Aug 16, 2015 05:51pm
Truely a brave man, and I presume the moving spirit behind crckdown on the militancy in Punjab.
The Govt of Punjab and Pakistan should go after the killers with full might and never let them raise their ugly head.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:55pm
He was a man of action not of talk.from last two years we were feeling a great change in punjab.he done a lot of work to clean punjab from mess of terrorism. Salute to him!!!!
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Aug 16, 2015 05:57pm
May your soul rest in peace.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:57pm
We salute you Sir for ur services to this nation.
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Aug 16, 2015 05:59pm
Shuja was a great man i only knew him briefly but he will be rembered and missed not only by his dear ones but all the nation may God rest his soul in peace and give great courage to his family to bear this great loss amin
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Aug 16, 2015 06:06pm
Shaheed zinda rehta hai! God bless you brave son of soil and I salute your bravery against extremists and criminals.
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Aug 16, 2015 06:29pm
Inna Lillahi wa inna alayhi rajaioon
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Aug 16, 2015 06:30pm
@Talha absolutely right
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Aug 16, 2015 06:36pm
@Haider Rehman - Thank you!
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Aug 16, 2015 06:44pm
Real solider gave his life to eradicate menace of terrorism. War against terrorism has to be fought by each and every Pakistani that is their duty.
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Aug 16, 2015 06:45pm
@DOVE Heard his name for the first time. A real hero.
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Aug 16, 2015 08:18pm
...it seems that LeJ is more active than our security agencies...???????????
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Aug 16, 2015 09:01pm
A Sad Day for Pakistan, a Brave man is brutally killed.
LeJ has broght so much Destruction, Truely Satanic
RIP
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Aug 16, 2015 09:29pm
It's people like him who are sacrificing their lives so we may live in peace . Salute to a brave person !
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Aug 16, 2015 10:49pm
Salute to all those who are fighting terrorism
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Aug 16, 2015 11:03pm
He will have to be replaced by another man with determination. Life must go on.
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Aug 16, 2015 11:24pm
I wonder if the government will let us know who the suicide bomber was , his background, where he got the bombs reasons, etc or are we to be kept in the dark once again?,
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Aug 16, 2015 11:27pm
I bow down to this brave awesome man,, may almighty blessed him with most exalted heavens,, it is because of his dare and gallantry that an ordinary person like me is in some relitive security from terrorist and extremists in pakistan, shujah khanzada was priceless gem. too sad that he got targeted due to showing iron courag to obscurantists, eliminate the last of terrorist from Pakistan of whatever origin and no matter what it takes if Pakistan is to be saved
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Aug 16, 2015 11:57pm
What a brave handsome man.. Salutes
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Aug 16, 2015 11:58pm
don't know him . RIP . but every now & then militants are killing innocent peoples in Pakistan .
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Aug 17, 2015 02:36am
A brave soldier down. The enemies of pakistan are losing, but they are wagging their dieing tail.
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Aug 17, 2015 02:45am
Its sad that when they die we come to know that he was the good one. What a loss!!!!
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Aug 17, 2015 04:33am
We will never forget! We will never rest! We will hunt your murderers down and bring them to justice or eradicate them.
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Aug 17, 2015 05:24am
I had the privilige of knowing the Colnel. He was very kind to me and was an extremely handsome man. Not sure why he left PTI? May God bless him
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Aug 17, 2015 06:17am
If the home minister's life is not safe, whose life is safe?
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Aug 17, 2015 08:41am
Col.Shuja. Khanzada
Shaheed e Pakistan.
We Salute You.
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Aug 17, 2015 09:21pm
Shuja Khanzada was a brave and professional interior minister.
Will miss him!
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