CHARSADDA: Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that Qissa Khwani tragedy is a dark and bloody chapter of history.

In a statement issued from Wali Bagh in connection with the 94th anniversary of martyrs of Qissa Khwani Bazaar, he said that 94 years passed since the tragedy but the martyrs of the incident had not received justice.

It merits a mention here that on April 23, 1930, the British Empire played a bloodbath in Qissa Khwani. More than 400 unarmed Khudai Khidmatgars and ordinary citizens were killed and more than 5,050 were injured.

The ANP leader said history did not forgive anyone. “Britain must admit the mistake it had made 94 years ago. The bodies of many martyrs were burnt and some were thrown in the river,” he added.

He said that Peshawar city, especially streets of Qissa Khwani, still remembered the sacrifice of every martyr. “Perhaps there is no room for these martyrs in the curriculum but we will always remember them,” he added.

Mr Khan said that on that day they also paid tributes to Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali and his colleagues. He said that under his leadership, Garhwali Rifles Regiment refused to open firing on innocent people. As a result, Veer Chandra Singh was tried for committing sedition and was imprisoned for 11 years, he added.

“Today we must make efforts to give practical shape to aspirations of all the martyrs. The sacrifices of these martyrs forced the colonialists to leave India,” he said.

The ANP leader said that sacrifices and struggle of their elders were a beacon for them. “We will never forget them. We will continue our struggle in every field to protect our soil and achieve our rights,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2024