OKARA: The Kharal Foundation (KF) of Pakistan, in collaboration with the City Press Club (CPC), held the martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Ahmad Khan Kharal. He was killed on Sept 21, 1857.

The event was chaired by chief minister’s political assistants Malik Haq Nawaz Sagla and Mian Abdu Rashid Booti.

Speakers remembered the freedom fighter who, along with other fighters of local communities of Ravi and Sutlej belts, including Wattoos, Fatianas, Murdanas, Kathias, Tarhanas, Sarganas and other tribes, spreaheded the freedom fight.

Bahauddin Zakariya University history department’s Prof Dr Turabul Hasan Sargana spoke of the struggle of freedom fighters under the Gugera Movement, headed by Rai Ahmad Khan Kharral Shaheed.

He stressed the need to explore the names of the fighters of other communities which fought against the British Raj as the Gugera Movement put its best under the command of Kharal Shaheed and earned the honour for ‘dharti’.

Sargana said these fighters are alive in ‘dholas’ (folklore) and folk songs in the vicinities of Ravi and Sutlej. He demanded that the government name a prominent place after Kharal in Okara for the remembrance of the freedom fighter.

KF activists Rai Saqib, Rai Zafar Iqbal, writer Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, Prof Amin Anjam and hosts Abid Hussain Mughal and Ahmad Nawazul Ghani also spoke and demanded that the government name a prominent place after Shaheed.

Prof Sargana also presented his book ‘Punjab and The War of Independence 1857-1858’ to the audience.

KIDNAPPED: Six suspects kidnapped a married woman and also took away Rs4 million and golden ornaments in village 1/SP late on Sunday.

Complainant Zahoor told Haveil police that he was out of house when the suspects kidnapped his wife Asiya and also took away the cash.

The police registered a case against Afzal, Sardar, Chiragh and Abid Ali and two unidentified accomplices.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2022