PESHAWAR, Dec 20: Fida Mohammad Khan, a former governor of the NWFP and a devoted worker of the Pakistan Movement, passed away early on Thursday morning after a protracted illness. He was 89.

His son-in-law, Justice (retd) Azam Khan, told Dawn that Fida Khan’s condition had deteriorated three days ago and he was admitted to the Lady Reading Hospital.

His funeral prayers were attended by a large number of Muslim Leaguers and politicians belonging to other parties. He was buried in his ancestral graveyard outside Sirki Gate.

Born in 1919, Fida Khan graduated from the Edwards College, Peshawar and later obtained an LLB degree from the Aligarh Muslim University.

He was one of the founding members of the NWFP chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League. On his invitation, the Quaid visited Peshawar and stayed at his home.

Since his father Tehmas Khan was a political tehsildar in Landi Kotal at that time, he arranged the Quaid’s historic trip to Torkham, where a large number of tribesmen announced their allegiance to the Muslim League.

Fida Khan played an active role in the 1947 referendum. He served the Muslim League National Guards and the Muslim Students Federation as president of the PML.