KHYBER: Speakers at a daylong session paid glowing tributes to Mirza Ali Khan, reverently known as Faqir Eppi, on his 64th death anniversary on Tuesday.

The event was organised by Khyber Ulass, a literary organisation, at Landi Kotal Press Club. A number of literary figures, members of political and social organisations and local youth representatives attended the session.

Speakers Naseem Lala, Riaz Afridi, Yousaf Baheer, Aftab Shinwari and Rizwan Shalmani said Faqir Eppi waged a noble war against the British and rendered numerous sacrifices for the liberation of Pakhtun nation.

They said Faqir Eppi was a Darwaish (pious person), who spent very simple life while leading the Pakhtun nation from the front in their struggle for their independence from the colonial forces.

They said Faqir Eppi played an important role in imparting both religious and formal education to Pakhtun children. He also stressed the need for development and prosperity of Pakhtuns.

They, however, regretted that Pakhtun nation was intentionally kept ignorant about the glorious past of their heroes, whose achievements were not included in the textbooks. They said Pakhtun nation could not progress unless their mother language was included in the educational curriculum for which a collective struggle was required by all the stakeholders.

They stressed the need for awareness about the glorious achievements of all the Pakhtun nationalist leaders, while also demanding legitimate share in the natural resources and befittingly remembering their past leaders.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2024