Glowing tribute paid to Haji Sahib Turangzai

GHALLANAI: The political administration of Mohmand Agency Saturday held a public gathering at the shrine of Haji Sahib Turangzai after a gap of eight years to pay tributes to the noted freedom fighter and social worker at Ghaziabad, Lakaro area in Safi tehsil.
Political Agent of Mohmand Agency Waqar Ali Khan, Member National Assembly Malik Bilal Rehman, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former minister Abdul Subhan, former senator Abdul Rehman Faqir, Maulana Guldad Khan, Maulana Samiullah alias Sahibul Haq and others who spoke on the occasion paid glowing tributes to Haji Sahib Turangzai to commemorate his services.
A large number of people, including tribal elders and the youth, showed up at the gathering.
Saud Bacha, Nadir Shah Bacha and Nasir Shah Bacha, the grandchildren of Haji Sahib Turangzai, also attended the programme.
It may be recalled that the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had captured the mosque at the shrine of Haji Sahib Turangzai in July 2007 to launch the Mohmand chapter of the militant group. A young militant, Abdul Wali, also known as Omar Khalid Khurasani, led the group that began terrorizing the people and destroying the peace of Mohmand Agency.
It became difficult since then to organize public gatherings and the annual Urs at the shrine of Haji Sahib Turangzai due to insecurity and threat from the militants.
The speakers at Saturday’s event said that Haji Sahib Turangzai and his companions fought against the British Raj and established almost 120 schools to educate the youth.
They said that Haji Sahib had laid the foundation stone of the historic Islamic College Peshawar.
They asked the prime minister to establish a university in the name of Haji Sahib Turangzai.
The speakers urged the local people to help rebuild the damaged schools in Mohmand tribal region to promote education to steer the young men away from unhealthy activities.