KARAK: Veteran Pashto poet and political worker Alaf Jana Khattaka was laid to rest in Ahmadi Banda village here on Sunday.

She left behind two brothers and a large number of fans to mourn her death. She died on Saturday in her home owing to multiple health complications. She was 88.

Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan paid rich tributes to her. ANP former district president Usman Khattak said that Alaf Jana Khattaka was born in 1931in Ahmadi Banda. He said that she had been an active member of Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek of Bacha Khan and her poetry was published in Pakhtun journal. Her columns were also published in the same journal.

ANP leaders including Mian Iftikhar Hussain, political workers, notables and fans attended her funeral. A floral wreath was laid on her grave on behalf of ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, who also issued a statement and termed her demise an irreparable loss for the party.

In a similar statement, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said that the deceased was a lady of great courage.

Alaf Jana Khattaka received education through a private tutor at her home till 8th grade but later continued getting education and passed matriculation examinations. She was even able to do two masters one each in Pashto and Urdu as private candidate.

Although her father Ghani Shah was against her schooling, yet her two brothers Shahzad Khan and Sahibzada Khan helped her get education.

Inspired by Bacha Khan Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek, she used to compose poems and send the same for publication in ‘Pakhtun’ magazine during 40s and continued to raise her voice for the rights of Pakhtun women.

She remained affiliated with Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek till last. She motivated Pakhtun women to know their rights and condemned outdated so-called social norms through her inspiring poetry and articles.

Alaf Jana Khattaka left behind a treasure trove of poems and articles.

The ANP leaders said that Alaf Jana Khattaka was an iron lady, who instilled a new spirit in Pakhtun women through her poems and prose.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2019