PESHAWAR: The participants of a function here on Wednesday demanded of the authorities to display the photograph of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the founder of modern Afghanistan, on all government installations.

The function was organised by Poha Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, at Peshawar Press Club to mark the 247th death anniversary of Ahmad Shah Baba.

Noted poets, writers, intellectuals, political and social activists attended the event. The speakers shed light on various aspects of life and achievements of Ahmad Shah Baba and termed him a great hero, who integrated the scattered tribes of Pakhtuns into one united nation.

Through a resolution, the participants asked the provincial government to display the photograph of Ahmad Shah Baba on all the government installations including Qilla Bala Hisar, a historic fort destroyed by Sikh rulers and rebuilt by Ahmad Shah Baba.

Function marks 247th death anniversary of founder of modern Afghanistan

The speakers said that Ahmad Shah Baba had begun his political career while he was in his teens and became king of Afghanistan through a democratic process of Pakhtun jirga after nine days of deliberations among different major tribes.

Noted intellectual and chief of Poha Foundation Ayaz Mandokhel in his opening remarks regretted that little research work had been done on Ahmad Shah Baba. He said that even the Afghan government had not come up with authentic research on the life and services of the great Pakhtun leader, who had great vision and spirit for humanity.

He said that some so-called historians had deliberately portrayed Ahmad Shah Baba as an unjust ruler and aggressor but in fact he made advances to India on the request of Shahwaliullah Delhvi.

Mr Mandokhel said that history books carried only fragmentary and wrong information regarding the political activities of Ahmad Shah Baba. He asked scholars to conduct scientific research work on all Pakhtun heroes so that the young generation could know about the factual history of their national leaders.

Later, he gave an impressive presentation titled ‘Myth and Realty’ on the achievements of the Afghan king.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, general secretary of Awami National Party, said on the occasion that during tenure of his party government, several changes had been made in the history books and lessons regarding Pakhtun heroes had been introduced while stage plays were enacted in Nishtar Hall on Khushal Khan Khattak, Rahman Baba and Pir Rokhan.

Mr Hussain said that Ahmad Shah Baba was a democratic king, who set up a modern Afghan state without any material resources. He said that he raised a force of 4,000 young soldiers to protect Indian Muslims from the aggression of Marhatas.

He said that Khushal Khan Khattak presented the concept of a united Pakhtun nation, Ahmad Shah Baba materialised his dream and Bacha Khan practically exhibited the idea of non-violence.

Prominent lawyer Abdul Latif Afridi, Dr Asfandyar Durrani, Gul Haider, senior journalist Shamim Shahid, Shahab Khattak and Qazi Hanifullah also spoke at the event.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2019