Condolence reference held for Pashto poet

MARDAN: Speakers at a condolence reference here on Saturday paid rich tributes to Pashto poet, writer and educationist Prof Farmanuddin Bakhshali.

Several poets including Aziz Manerwal, Akbar Hoti, Inayat Shah Bacha, Umarzada Afghan, Mihar Andish, Maulana Ameen Jan, son of the deceased Ejazud Din Bakhshali, Azmatud Din, Abdul Subhan Khan, Dr Yousaf Yousafzai and Masoodur Rehman addressed the event.

The speakers said that the late Prof Farmanuddin Bakhshali was a sincere follower of freedom fighter Bacha Khan and Abdul Wali Khan.

They added that the late Farmanuddin was a committed person and he followed the philosophy of Bacha Khan till his death. Farmanuddin took part in the Khudai Khidmatgar Movement and fought for the rights of Pakhtuns through his pen, they went on to add.

They said that the deceased was a founding member of Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF), the student wing of Awami National Party (ANP), and later also served as chairman of the Pashto Department of Islamia College, Peshawar.

The speakers said that Farmanuddin would be remembered for his struggle for the promotion of Pashto language and Pakhtuns’ rights. Poets and leaders of different political parties attended the condolence meeting in large numbers.