GHALANAI (Mohmand Agency), April 11: A seminar was held on Wednesday to commemorate the services rendered by Haji Saheb Turangzai, a prominent leader of the Reshmi Roomal Tehrik.

Haji Saheb, a leading figure of the movement against the British, was also the founder of Peshawar’s historic Islamia College. The seminar was organised by Mohmand Adbi Toloona, a literary body, at the Ghalanai Press Club.

Praising Haji Sahib’s undaunted struggle against the British Raj, speakers said he encouraged freedom fighters to set up educational institutions.

Noted educationist Prof Pareshan Khattak, Haji Sahib’s grandson Abdul Baqi Bacha, Salim Raz, Dr Yar Mohammad Maghmoom, Haji Jamal of Sangar, Abdus Samad Mohmand, Maulana Samiul Haq alias Sahib Haq, Abdul Manan, Shamsul Qamar Shams and Dr Yasin highlighted the life and achievements of Haji Sahib.

They said that Haji Sahib was not only a mystic but also one of the pioneers of the freedom movement in India. He mobilised the people of India against foreign domination.

They said that Haji Sahib —like Bacha Khan (Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan), who was one of his companions — suffered greatly at the hands of British rulers.

Haji Sahib, who defeated the British forces at Karapa, was a follower of Sheikhul Hind Maulana Mahmoodul Hasan, a prominent scholar of Darul Uloom Deoband. Haji Sahib and his colleagues, on the directives of the Sheikhul Hind, migrated to the Mohmand Agency and made it their new base of operations.