MARDAN: Speakers at a ceremony held here on Sunday paid rich tribute to Pakhtun leader Khan Abdus Samad Khan Achakzai, praising him for fighting till death for the cause of Pakhtuns.

The ceremony held at the press club here marked the 42nd death anniversary of Samad Khan best known as Khan Shaheed Khan.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Senior Minister in Balochistan Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Mukhtiar Khan Yousafzai, its MNA Qahar Khan Wadaan, Senator Usman Kakar and other prominent leaders and activists attended the function.

On the occasion, Mr Ziaratwal said Abdus Samad Khan had spent more than 30 years behind the bars and fought against British rulers as well as against those unleashing atrocities on Pakhtuns.

He said the deceased leader never compromised on Pakhtuns’ rights as well as his principles during his lifetime.

Mukhtiar Yousafzai said Samad Khan was a nationalist progressive and enlightened leader who always tried to spread love and fraternity among Pakhtuns and opposed politics of hatred.

“It was a desire of the fallen leader to bring unity to Pakhtuns living in different parts of Pakistan to get their rights realised and lead a dignified life.”

He said the PkMAP would follow in the footsteps of their leader and continue struggle for unification of all Pakhtun areas to form a single province.

MNA Wadaan said Khan Shaheed had actively taken part in the struggle against the British rule in the subcontinent and tried to create awareness among Pakhtun nation for getting their due status in the society.

Even after formation of Pakistan, he said Samad Khan continued struggle for Pakhtun’s cause.

“He not only opposed the one-unit system but also struggled against the dictatorships of Ayub Khan and Yahya Khan.”

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2015