Daily Times

KHYBER: More than half dozen tribal neonates of Khyber, born at time of independence were named “Pakistan” soon after the creation of the country.

Great jubilation was exhibited across the tribal region at the time when Pakistan came into being, and the tribal unanimously and unconditionally extended their loyalty towards the newly created state. Naming their kids ‘Pakistan’ was an effort from the tribesmen to prove their allegiance with Pakistan. Haji Pakistan s/o Muhammada Gul,Piro Khel, 71,a businessman said that he was born on the same day when Muslims of the sub-continent got their separate homeland and his father named him ‘ Pakistan’ in excitement.

Talking about the impact of the name he further said that he was always very confident to be named after the name of his country, as it granted him distinctive status in society. “I am warmly and regularly celebrate my birthday on the same day when the entire nation of Pakistan observes Independence Day and I thanked my parents for naming me after my beloved country, Pakistan”, said, Haji Pakistan .

Recalling his memories 82 years old Khushal Mir of Khuga Khel said that in October, 1946 the local tribal disgraced Pandit Jawahir Lal Nehru on his visit to the area which practically supported Pakistan’s cause.

”We were studying in government high school, Topkhana (artillery) when Pakistan came into being and we, the school students marched in Landi Kotal bazaar while holding the national flag to commemorate the independence”, said Mir.

He further said that large numbers of tribal elders gathered on Landi Kotal-Torkham road near butcher house and bombarded stones at Nehru who was on his visit to Torkham border . At that time the British administration of Landi Kotal carried out aerial firing to disperse the protesters that injured three tribesmen, including a respectable elder said Minhajuddin Bacha. He claimed that the tribesmen greatly accepted the partition movement who practically rejected the accession to India policy by dishonoring Mr. Nehru on his trip. To prove their loyalty with Pakistan, tribesmen named their children as ‘Pakistan’.

The above mentioned statement has been also recorded by the Pashto Baba-e-Ghazal, Ameer Hamza Khan Shinwari in his biography.

Published in Daily Times, August 13^th 2018.