PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function here described artists and folksingers as the custodians of art and culture and ambassadors of peace who had devoted their life to promoting the cause of humanism and universal values through their works. They said that Awami National Party gave respect to artists, poets, writers and intellectuals and considered their role pivotal in the formation of a forward-looking society.

The newly-elected cabinet of ANP, Peshawar city district, celebrated holding of peaceful and fair elections, and arranged the event at Bacha Khan Markaz where Aimal Wali Khan, party’s provincial chief, administered oath to the city district cabinet members.

On this occasion, Aimal Wali pledged to lead his party in the right direction. He said he would provide his full support to the party workers.

Aimal Wali administers oath to ANP’s Peshawar office-bearers

The speakers said that Bacha Khan’s vision of pluralistic society with emphasis on people’s rights, women’s education and social justice through non-violence bore fruit and forced the alien forces to leave the country. They said that Bacha Khan won a war without weapons and his arms were his own people committed to his cause of freedom. ANP leaders Haji Ghulam Bilour, Sardar Hussain Babak, Hidayatullah Khan and Shams Buneri, political workers and rights activists attended the function.

Addressing the event, party’s central secretary general Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that Bacha Khan believed in the organisational structure and its electoral process because he had sensed that no movement could be successful without an organised force. He said that fair elections always ensured senior and devoted leadership.

Narrating a story about Bacha Khan’s vision, Mr Hussain said that Watany Chacha was a village drummer who used to walk up to the hujra of a local Khan to get Eidi, a humble monetary gift, from him. He added that Watany Chacha was so devoted to the Khudai Khidmatgaar Tehreek of Bacha Khan that people had him elected as chief of the area defying taboos in a typical Pakhtun society.

“Bacha Khan had raised a force of 100,000 volunteers who enjoyed no privilege or pay because they were inspired to serve masses without any motive of personal gains. Not only men, but women were also trained to serve people with no vested interests. We need to serve masses with this vision of Bacha Khan,” the ANP leader maintained.

Sartaj Khan, the newly-elected chief of Peshawar city district, said that artists and folksingers being symbols of peace should spread the message of humanism as they were the bearers of culture and ambassadors of peace. Later, a Pashto musical concert was held in which folksingers Fazal Wahab Dard, Aslam Salik and Gauhar Jan performed and received applause from the audience.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2019