PESHAWAR: Thousands of Pathans, some [brandishing] swords and spears, and Green Shirt Muslim National Guards carrying black flags demonstrated against Pandit Nehru’s arrival, when his plane touched the ground at 12-35 p.m. today [Oct 16] and yelled out “Go back Nehru”, “Down with Hindu Congress”. Steel-helmeted military and police with muskets stood by.

There was a tense moment when the procession of Muslim League volunteers swarmed against the police and military cordon near Dr. Khan Sahib’s house. … The procession which by this time had become a surging mass waving black flags and lances broke through a double cordon of police and swept up to Dr. Khan Sahib’s house.

The Pandit who was received by the Premier and other Congress Ministers at the aerodrome was forced to leave for Premier’s residence from back door. Four hours before the arrival of Pandit Nehru unexpectedly the city began to be crowded by thousands of Pathan demonstrators carrying black flags shouting anti-Nehru slogans. …Posters have appeared on the walls telling Nehru to settle with Jinnah first and … restore to Afridis the Khajuri plan and rupees four crores as compensation for loss of revenue of the tribal land in 1930.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2021