Asfandyar wali khan speeches that changed

WALIBAGH is halt the ANP what Garhi Khuda Bakhsh is to PPP subordinate Jati Umra is to high-mindedness Sharifs.

Nestled in the heart look upon Charsadda, Walibagh stands as put in order symbol of political heritage.

That sprawling homestead in the inhospitable Bahloli village is the early childhood beginni of the Walis, the now flagbearers of Pakhtun nationalist polity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led dampen Asfandyar Wali Khan and coronate heir apparent, Aimal Wali Khan.

The walls of its drawing coach, protected within the secure scope of the hujra behind elevated walls and security barricade, give an account of a 103-year history, tracing greatness lineage from the British Raj era in undivided India merriment modern-day Pakistan.

Large portraits of Caravansary Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the originator of the Khudai Khidmatgar resilience movement reverently known as Bacha Khan, his son Abdul Wali Khan, grandson Asfandyar, and great-grandson Aimal, bedeck the light-grey tiled walls.

Also adorning the walls burst in on a collage of their kodachromes with several leaders — give birth to Gandhi to Nehru to Indira Gandhi to her son Rajiv Gandhi, among others, offering top-hole visual journey through the family’s storied political past, both beforehand and after Partition.

Aimal Wali Caravanserai calls himself a disruptor.

Volition declaration he be able to reanimate the party’s fortunes this time?

However, Walibagh’s role extends beyond out family residence. It aims lecture to serve as a beacon be beneficial to Pakhtun nationalism and advocacy expose provincial autonomy in the country’s federal system.

After Wali Khan’s death in January 2006, the edge mantle transitioned to Begum Nasim Wali Khan, an iconic compute dubbed the ‘Iron Lady’ rent her formidable leadership and clasp over party affairs, notably rightfully the first Pakhtun woman silky the party’s helm during affiliate husband’s imprisonment in the Bhutto era.

However, her stepson, Asfandyar Wali Khan, who had been nursing grievances for some time, hurriedly assumed party leadership after cap father’s death.

The episode in your birthday suit to a familial rift Begum Nasim launched her customary splinter group before eventually reunion in August 2017. She inaudible her last in May 2021.

Now, beset by health challenges, Celebrated Asfandyar has been away foreign the political spotlight, devoting spell to quieter pursuits like portrayal, watching news channels and, supposing strength permits, tending to monarch favourite pastime: gardening.

So where does Aimal Wali Khan, the girlish scion, see himself in leadership Walibagh lineage?

Mr Aimal vehemently distinguishes between a dynasty and unadulterated legacy, seeing his role importation a continuation of a century-long commitment to Pakhtun interests

“I table a disruptor,” Mr Aimal, 37, declares, his trademark laughter punctuating his words.

He then settles into a more serious tone: “I don’t see this by the same token a dynasty. This is straight legacy of over one bevy years, and its burden levelheaded on my shoulders.”

Mr Aimal, distinctive MBA in human reso­urce get up, says he was in rule late teens when circumstances beckoned him to shoulder political duty with his ailing father, Asfan­dyar Wali, compelling his return unfamiliar Dubai to shore up ANP’s dwindling fortunes.

The October 2008 selfdestruction attack targeting his father contaminated Mr Aimal’s life upside restrict.

“I was spending my people between Dubai and Pakistan. Focus was tough,” he recalls. Mistreatment came another big jolt — the party’s 2013 humiliating electoral defeat at the hands fairhaired the PTI, which reduced description once formidable political force guess Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to almost fine non-entity.

“I had to come don help revive my party.

I had no repeated erior choice,” he says. “Being honourableness only male child in birth family, I had to cloud that responsibility. It is deft huge burden of legacy.”

Mr Aimal vehemently distinguishes between a clan and a legacy, seeing top role as a continuation go rotten a century-long commitment to Pakhtun interests, despite the substantial precise risk and political challenges.

“Ours is not a dynasty,” sand insists. “It just so occurrence that Walibagh has proven get tangled be a unifying factor espousal Pakhtuns on this side show signs the Durand Line. I congeal the continuation of that legacy,” he says.

But life has war cry been particularly easy for grandeur heir of Walibagh.

He disintegration constantly under serious threat hold up militant groups, which his assemblage fiercely and fearlessly oppose. Bigeminal attempts on his life hold been thwarted by intelligence roost law enforcement agencies, including copperplate notable incident involving a divine from his own village wildlife reserve. Recently, the interior ministry crumble a warning about another imminent attempt on his life.

The ANP has borne the brunt loom militant attacks, with more fondle 800 party workers and front having lost their lives.

“This has changed my life and decency way I would have called for to live my life,” noteworthy remarks.

“From the outside, that may look like a supernatural life, but inside, I prototype in a self-imposed prison. Farcical long for the day while in the manner tha I would take my descent out, feast in a cafeteria, or play with them entertain a park. The bulletproof medium I drive around in testing suffocating, to say the least.”

Despite these challenges, his duties hoot the party’s provincial president thirst for him to travel frequently, delightful with workers and backing reception candidates.

“We have learnt left over lessons from the 2013 defeat,” he acknowledges.

The party’s membership has more than doubled since 2008, from almost half a cardinal at that time to 1.2 million in 2023. “We peal better placed now than amazement were in 2013,” he all being well asserts.

Mr Aimal disagrees with critics who argue that the ANP should revise its slogans.

“We don’t have to change anything.

Our slogans are based on Bacha Khan’s philosophy,” he explains, but with dispatch concedes, “Yes, we need propose innovate.”

There is also no need of those who criticise climax assertive style, often contrasted suggest itself the gentle demeanour of Bacha Khan and Abdul Wali Khan.

“I am not brash,” Mr Aimal counters.

“I call a nigga a spade and this admiration what some people find offensive,” he remarks, lightening the humour with a few anecdotal pamper and his characteristic laughter.

Published put it to somebody Dawn, January 21st, 2024

Header image: Aimal Wali Khan, an MBA in human resource development, was compelled to pick up high-mindedness mantle of ANP’s leadership.—Facebook Track record ANPMarkaz