PESHAWAR: Over 90-year-old tribal elders still vividly remember the two important visits of Quaid-i- Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to historic Khyber Pass, one each made by the Father of the Nation in October 1945 and in April 1948.

Nonagenarian Malak Raj Mohammad Khan alias Rajoon while sharing his memories of Jinnah’s first visit to Landi Kotal in a mood of excitement said that the leader of the masses was welcomed enthusiastically amid slogans of ‘Quaid-i-Azam Zindabad’ as he got down from his car at Charwazgai area now called Hamza Baba Chowk.

The tribal elders demanded a Jinnah monument at Charwazgai area where he had delivered a historic address. They regretted that despite elapse of 70 years, tribal people were still searching for Jinnah’s Pakistan.

“In British era, there was peace, justice and prosperity but as they were aliens, we didn’t like them to rule us. We thought freedom from British would mean freewill, public welfare and prosperity but new rulers imposed FCR on us which proved the worst kind slavery. Jinnah had never wanted it for us,” they said.

Recalling the great moments, Mr Khan said that he was a young boy then who along with his friends advanced towards Jinnah despite security restrictions to have had a glimpse of the most charismatic leader of the Muslims of the sub-continent. “Quaid-i-Azam spoke briefly but won over hearts of tribal people forever. He appreciated our courage for rejecting Nehru plan and promised our free tribal status. Physically frail but spiritually strong, Jinnah gave us a new strength to win freedom from the British rule,” he said with a beaming face.

The nonagenarian tribal elder narrated several stories about occasional crimes in the tribal areas during British rule and how would the then political agents deal them. “Lieutenant Colonel George Roos Keppel commonly known as Kole Pairangai being quite fluent in Pashto used to skillfully deal tribal people because he knew their social norms and traditions. There was balance in his attitude towards tribal Pakhtuns. He enjoyed good relations with local population,” he recalled.

Mr Khan regretted that Pakistani rulers couldn’t fulfil promises made with tribal people by Quaid-i- Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He said that British had ruled them with justice and never hurt people’s honour and prestige but unfortunately, political authorities usurped their genuine rights.

“Now in this modern world, people want ‘change’, education and health facilities and the basic right to express themselves. Merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could be one big option,” he said.

Malak Khilwat Afridi, 92, told this scribe that he had met founder of the nation on both of his visits. He said that shaking hands with the great leader was his utmost desire and it was answered on the occasion of his second visit on April 11, 1948 to Landi Kotal.

“As a tribal youth, I had seen a dream of changing our destiny but unfortunately when the nation is celebrating its 70th Independence Day, tribal people are still in a sea of problems. Our Quaid-i-Azam had envisioned a free country where speedy justice would be dispensed to all irrespective of cast, creed and language. What our rulers have done to the vision of founder of the country is obvious,” said Mr Afridi. Malak Ameer Nawaz, 93, said when the entire nation was celebrating 70th Independence Day of Pakistan, tribal people still looked up to rulers to recognise them as equal citizens and accept their human rights.

He said as to why rulers had made tribal area a battle ground for international players at the cost of their properties and lives. “I met Quaid-i- Azam on the first occasion of his visit in 1945. He was pleased to see the warm welcome by the tribal people, who had earlier garlanded Nehru with bones. His image is still fresh in my memory,” he added.

Malak Swab Khan Ghanikhel and Haji Arifullah Khan Shinwari both in their late 90s said that tribal people still loved Quaid-i-Azam and were ready to render sacrifices for safeguarding the interests of Pakistan.

The tribal elders were of the view that Fata reforms should be implemented forthwith in accordance with wishes of tribal people. “Though we were in our teens when Jinnah visited Landi Kotal and Torkham yet we clearly remember how warmly he was received at Charwazgai by our elders. Yadgaar-i-Jinnah at Charwazgai would be a fitting tribute to the great leader and father of the nation. We need Qauid’s Pakistan run under the 1973 Constitution, not under the FCR,” said the elders.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2017

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