PESHAWAR: The Qaumi Watan Party has announced that it will observe the 45th death anniversary of Hayat Khan Sherpao today (Tuesday) by holding a public meeting in the Sherpao village of Charsadda.

Mr Hayat, the elder brother of QWP chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, was killed in a bomb blast during a Peshawar University function in 1975.

A close aide of Pakistan Peoples Party founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he served as the party’s first chairperson in the province.

He played a vital role in the creation of awareness among poor people of their rights.

According to the QWP spokesman, the party’s workers from different districts and parts of the province will participate in the Charsadda public meeting to show love for their leader.

The event will be addressed by party chairman Aftab Sherpao, general secretary Anisazeb Tahirkheli and other leaders.

Tribute paid to PPP leader for working for people’s rights

The Hayat Sherpao death anniversary is regularly marked with the QWP using it to show political power in the area.

In separate messages, a number of people, including senior journalist Rahimullah Yousufzai, former senator Afrasiab Khattak, former director of Radio Pakistan Laiqzada Laiq and literary figure Saleem Raz, paid rich tribute to Mr Hayat and described his death as an irreparable loss for the people of the province.

Mr Yousufzai appreciated the deceased’s political services and said Mr Hayat had introduced the Pakistan Peoples Party in the province as a new political party after the Pakistan Muslim League and Awami National Party.

He said Mr Hayat had rendered tremendous services for the people’s welfare and thus, becoming very popular and that he lost life as some people might considered him to be a threat to their politics.

In a video message, former provincial president of the Awami National Party Afrasiab Khattak said he had very cordial friendly relations with Mr Hayat mainly due to his love for Pashto language and commitment to the remaining of the province.

He said the PPP was a party of farmers and shouted the slogan of socialism and therefore, the people of the left loved it.

Mr Laiqzada Laiq and Saleem Raz appreciated Mr Hayat for creating awareness, especially among the educated youths, of their rights.

They said Hayat’s political efforts helped the people raise voice for own rights during the days of prolonged dictatorship.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2020