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PESHAWAR: After struggling for years for the cause of the Pakhtuns as a politician and lawyer, Arbab Mohammad Humayun Khan died at the age of 81 without ever occupying any public office during his long political career.
He, however, remained loyal to the cause until the end of his life. On October 3, he breathed his last in his village, Tehkal Bala, in Peshawar. His death is being widely mourned not only by the members of the Awami National Party (ANP), to which he belonged, but also other nationalists.
Those who knew Arbab Humayun believe he followed in the footsteps of his elder brother, Arbab Sikandar Khan Khalil, a simple and honest man whose tenure as governor of the province is still remembered with admiration. Arbab Humayun, too, was a humble person and known for his honesty.
Arbab Humayun was born in 1929 in a family that was engaged in the freedom struggle against the British rule in the subcontinent. His father Arbab Saadat Ali Khan, a respectable elder of the area was among the close associates of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan lovingly called Bacha Khan by his supporters. Arbab Saadat died in prison at Haripur in 1932 where he was detained for his association with the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
Arbab Humayun was brought up by his elder brother, Arbab Sikandar Khan, with whom he was greatly attached. Those who met him said his eyes would well up while recalling the memories of his brother. He was a prominent lawyer of the city.
In the Hyderabad Conspiracy Case, he was the legal counsel of Khan Abdul Wali Khan and many others including his brother Arbab Sikandar. Besides, he represented many nationalist students as well as peasants and workers in court of law without charging them for his services.
Arbab Humayun forever remained a political activist. His active entry into politics came after the killing of his brother Arbab Sikandar in 1982. He played a visible role in the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) against the regime of General Ziaul Haq. He remained behind bars during the dictatorial rule of General Zia and was also arrested in the Hayat Sherpao murder case. Arbab Humayun served the ANP as provincial general secretary for a long time.
In the early 90s he developed differences with the ANP leadership and joined the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party. However, after a few years he left the party and stopped taking part in active politics. In 2002, he rejoined the ANP and remained loyal to the party until his death. He was the senior member of the ANP think-tank and central working committee.
Arbab Humayun was also a close friend of Dr Najibullah, former president of Afghanistan. According to his son, Arbab Daud, both were like brothers. Dr Najibullah’s mother also stayed at Arbab Humayun home in Peshawar for almost two years. He contested assembly elections a number of times but could not make it to the parliament. However, he continued to enjoy influence in his area and the people had great respect for him.
He is survived by five sons and five daughters. All his children are highly educated and are serving in different fields of life.
Afzal Khan, a veteran ANP leader from Swat who was the party’s provincial president when Arbab Humayun was the general secretary, eulogised the services of the late nationalist leader. He said Arbab Humayun came from a family that offered great sacrifices for the cause of the Pakhtuns. “He was a brave man who stood firmly against dictatorship and never budged from his principled stand,” Afzal Khan said.
He said Arbab Humayun was an asset to the Pakhtuns and his death deprived the nation of an honest, steadfast and committed nationalist. He hoped his family would continue to work for the progress of the Pakhtuns.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/07-10-2010/Peshawar/8712.htm
He, however, remained loyal to the cause until the end of his life. On October 3, he breathed his last in his village, Tehkal Bala, in Peshawar. His death is being widely mourned not only by the members of the Awami National Party (ANP), to which he belonged, but also other nationalists.
Those who knew Arbab Humayun believe he followed in the footsteps of his elder brother, Arbab Sikandar Khan Khalil, a simple and honest man whose tenure as governor of the province is still remembered with admiration. Arbab Humayun, too, was a humble person and known for his honesty.
Arbab Humayun was born in 1929 in a family that was engaged in the freedom struggle against the British rule in the subcontinent. His father Arbab Saadat Ali Khan, a respectable elder of the area was among the close associates of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan lovingly called Bacha Khan by his supporters. Arbab Saadat died in prison at Haripur in 1932 where he was detained for his association with the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
Arbab Humayun was brought up by his elder brother, Arbab Sikandar Khan, with whom he was greatly attached. Those who met him said his eyes would well up while recalling the memories of his brother. He was a prominent lawyer of the city.
In the Hyderabad Conspiracy Case, he was the legal counsel of Khan Abdul Wali Khan and many others including his brother Arbab Sikandar. Besides, he represented many nationalist students as well as peasants and workers in court of law without charging them for his services.
Arbab Humayun forever remained a political activist. His active entry into politics came after the killing of his brother Arbab Sikandar in 1982. He played a visible role in the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) against the regime of General Ziaul Haq. He remained behind bars during the dictatorial rule of General Zia and was also arrested in the Hayat Sherpao murder case. Arbab Humayun served the ANP as provincial general secretary for a long time.
In the early 90s he developed differences with the ANP leadership and joined the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party. However, after a few years he left the party and stopped taking part in active politics. In 2002, he rejoined the ANP and remained loyal to the party until his death. He was the senior member of the ANP think-tank and central working committee.
Arbab Humayun was also a close friend of Dr Najibullah, former president of Afghanistan. According to his son, Arbab Daud, both were like brothers. Dr Najibullah’s mother also stayed at Arbab Humayun home in Peshawar for almost two years. He contested assembly elections a number of times but could not make it to the parliament. However, he continued to enjoy influence in his area and the people had great respect for him.
He is survived by five sons and five daughters. All his children are highly educated and are serving in different fields of life.
Afzal Khan, a veteran ANP leader from Swat who was the party’s provincial president when Arbab Humayun was the general secretary, eulogised the services of the late nationalist leader. He said Arbab Humayun came from a family that offered great sacrifices for the cause of the Pakhtuns. “He was a brave man who stood firmly against dictatorship and never budged from his principled stand,” Afzal Khan said.
He said Arbab Humayun was an asset to the Pakhtuns and his death deprived the nation of an honest, steadfast and committed nationalist. He hoped his family would continue to work for the progress of the Pakhtuns.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/07-10-2010/Peshawar/8712.htm