KHYBER: Poets and writers here on Sunday paid tributes at an event to literary contributions of Bab-i-Pashto Ghazal Ameer Hamza Khan Shinwari on the occasion of his 32nd death anniversary.

Organised at jirga hall in Landi Kotal, the event was attended by literati from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with hundreds of Hamza Baba followers and lovers.

Speakers on the occasion highlighted different aspects of the poetry of Hamza Baba. “Nobody can deny that he was one of the greatest literary figures of the region,” they said.

They said that Hamza Baba knew well the psychology of Pakhtuns and penned down their sentiments while having his fingers on the pulse of his followers.

“He was the undisputed Shahenshah of Pashto ghazal. He also remained an integral part of the contemporary ideological movement,” they said, adding that Hamza Baba always preached peace and brotherhood among Pakhtuns.

Speakers said that being a multi-dimensional personality, his services and works could not be wrapped up in organising an anniversary on a day on annual basis. They said that regular literary sessions should be held to highlight his works. They added that literary societies should be formed in educational institutions to disseminate his literary works among local youth.

They asked local youth to regularly visit the library established adjacent to the mausoleum of Ameer Hamza Khan Shinwari and hold informal literary sessions.

Prof Yar Mohammad Maghmum, Dr Abaseen Yousufzai, Prof Aslam Taseer, Eng Shehzad Gul and Prof Aseer Mangal addressed the gathering.

Through various resolutions, the participants of the event demanded creation of Hamza Baba academy where regular reviews of his works could be conducted along with publications of his books.

They also demanded naming both Fata University and Government Postgraduate College Landi Kotal after Ameer Hamza Khan Shinwari along with provision of books to the library at his mausoleum.

Through another resolution, they demanded that all personal belongings of Hamza Baba should be preserved at his mausoleum with construction of a hall for holding of literary sessions and cultural events.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026