NWFP Minister for Information, Transport and Inter-Co-ordination, Iftikhar Hussain, has asked the overseas Pakhtoons to promote the philosophy of "the Khudai Khidmatgar leader Fakhre Afghan Bacha Khan and Rehber-e-Tehrik Khan Abdul Wali Khan" of non-violence and peace, and convey their message of selfless service of mankind to each and every nook of the world.
This he said while addressing the death anniversaries of Bacha Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan arranged by Pukhtoon community at Birmingham UK on Monday on his first leg of his visit to Britain and Sweden. It was also addressed by the local leaders of ANP who paid glowing tributes to both leaders of pukhtoon by highlighting their struggle for the welfare and rights of pukhtoons as well as progress of the region.
The Minister appealed to the political parties and people from cross sections of life living abroad to shun their petty differences and come forward united to wipe out the bloodshed of mankind in the pukhtoon region. He said it was the bounden responsibility of every Muslim, and pukhtoons in particular, to help and work to restore peace and bring normalcy in the country to pave the way to real prosperity of the people.
He said that ANP did not believe in violence but wanted dialogue and hence was ready to sit on table with militants for peace with the only condition that they have to surrender their weapons first for the purpose.
Paying glowing tributes to Bacha Khan and Wali Khan, Iftikhar said that they and their families had rendered great sacrifices for the rights of pukhtoons and development of their region and they had to undergo imprisonment for decades but did not compromise on rights of pukhtoons. He vowed that followers of these great leaders would never bow before the terrorist forces anyhow.
He said that the threats of suicide attacks and assassination could not stop the ANP leadership from their sincere efforts of bringing about peace in the region and educating the pukhtoon youth. He added that they would continue their Jehad for removing illiteracy and enlightening the society with the light of education and knowledge even if they had to offer any sacrifice for the purpose.