PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party’s leadership has paid tribute to the martyrs of Takkar and vowed to fulfil their mission for Pakhtuns rights.
They described the May 28, 1930, Takkar massacre as a black day in Pakhtun history when British forces brutally killed over 70 freedom fighters.
In separate statements on Wednesday, ANP central president Senator Animal Wali Khan and provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain lamented that the sacrifices of the Khudai Khitmatgars (members of Pakhtun nationalist movement) were not highlighted in textbooks and national discourse.
Mr Aimal criticised the state for prioritising military hardware over acknowledging the sacrifices of freedom fighters, saying Pakhtuns continue to face colonialism in new forms. He said that ignoring the sacrifices of the martyrs of Takkar would be a betrayal of history and that their struggle was an integral part of the freedom narrative.
The ANP leader reaffirmed the ANP’s commitment to remembering its martyrs and continuing the struggle for rights and said the sacrifices of the martyrs of Takkar would not be forgotten.
He highlighted that the true lesson of May 28 lied in the struggle of the martyrs of Takkar, and wondered whether the sacrifices for peace and freedom were priceless.
Meanwhile, Mian Iftikhar paid tribute to the martyrs of Takkar and said they would always be remembered in the country’s history.
He said living nations never forget the sacrifices of their ancestors, martyrs and heroes, and the ANP was committed to following the footsteps of its leaders.
The ANP leader emphasised that the martyrs of Takkar had left an indelible mark on history, and their sacrifices served as a guiding light for the party’s struggle.
He underscored the significance of Bacha Khan’s philosophy of non-violence, which, he said, has proven that Pakhtuns was a peaceful and civilised nation that seeks to protect their rights through reason and resistance rather than force.
Mr Hussain complained that the voices of those advocating for peace, rights and provincial autonomy were being suppressed in Pakhtun areas, and the process of genocide against Pakhtuns had been ongoing for decades.
He declared the ANP’s commitment to its peaceful struggle for provincial autonomy and constitutional rights, inspired by the sacrifices of its martyrs.
The ANP leader paid tribute to the martyrs of Takkar, saying their sacrifices will never be forgotten and will continue to inspire the party’s struggle for rights and identity.
Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2025