Afzal Khan Lala

Afzal Khan Lala’s death was the end of not only one man’s life, but of a whole era of principled politics and unparalleled bravery in the face of extremism and terrorism. Afzal Khan was also a scholar who had five books to his credit. Khan remained a minister – both at the provincial as well as federal levels – in his long, distinguished political career. But even his political rivals could not point out any incidents of corruption by Afzal Khan.
When the Taliban practically took over the whole of the Malakand region, Afzal Khan was the only person in the area who refused to be intimidated by them and did not leave his town. For his defiance he was ambushed in 2007 in which he was severely injured and two of his relatives were killed. Between 2008 and 2009, the Taliban carried out many attacks on Lala’s house. For his unmatched bravery the government awarded him the Sitara-e-Jurat.
Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad