Pakhtunkhwa

This refers to the letter, ‘KP or KPK’ (February 2) by Muhammad Azam Khan. Ahmad Shah Abdali was not the first person to use the word ‘Pakhtunkhwa’. It was first used by the orthodox religious reformer, Akhund Darveza (1530AD to 1618AD) in his famous book ‘Makhizan-ul Islam’ some two hundred years before Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Its second source is a couplet of the popular Pushto poet Khushhal Khan Khatta in which he used the word ‘Pakhtunkhwa’.

Prof Dr Yar Muhammad Maghmoom Khattak

Peshawar

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This refers to various letters published in these pages in response to my letter, ‘KP confusion’ (January 10). One writer has suggested the abbreviation ‘KP’ while another suggested ‘KPK’ and Col (r) Sayed GB Shah suggested that no abbreviation should be used.

All these letters confirm one thing: that the confusion regarding the correct abbreviation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa persists. Therefore, the provincial government should clarify this confusion.

Dr Khizar Azam Khan

Peshawar