Naseebullah Khan
A legend son of a legend father. A man of strong nerves, commitment, a pacifist, courage, bravery, and hard work, a crowd puller, a great speaker, an epitome of democracy, a human rights defender, and a seasoned politician whose life is history itself. His services at a critical juncture of thousands of years of his nation are admirable for awakening the nation from a deep slumber. Mr. Mahmood Khan Achakzai became the chairman of the Pashtun nationalist party the NAP, (which was changed to the PKMAP, in 1989,) at the age of 25 years when he was a student of engineering, at a time when his father, Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai was martyred in 1973. In the absence of Khan Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai who spent a huge part of his life in prison, Mr. Mahmood Khan Achakzai was nourished by his sister Khorbibi. The Pashtun call him Masher which means elder or leader. His democratic struggle is unwavering. He has been a vocal opponent of undemocratic forces,s interference in politics. It can be observed from his struggle against military rules in Pakistan and for the support of democracy and parliament that he had been a part of the MRD movement against the dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq, APDM moment for the restoration of democracy against General Musharraf, and the present PDM, that aims to protect democratic norms and values in the country, which flashes his commitment with democracy. A petition of high treason against him, which was declared null and void by the honourable courts__could not stopped him from democratic voice. This unparalleled struggle of Mr. Achakzai for democracy and human rights has made him respected by the progressive segment and the intelligentsia of the country. Mahmood Khan Achakzai was one of the pioneers of the PONUM movement which aimed at the protection of the rights of the Pashtun, the Baloch, the Sindhi, and the Saraiki nations. It was by dint of that movement that created a tremendous harmony between the Pashtun and the Baloch nations in Balochistan__which was under the grip of the bloody tussle between these brotherly nations. He has been a member of the national assembly of Pakistan many times. But nothing of corruption has been attached to him. Due to this, and his devotedness to democracy, he was offered to become the caretaker Prime Minister in 2013, which he refused to accept on the ground of a clash of interests as his party itself was taking part in the election. When khan Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai started his politics, his legacy revolved around human rights, and against anti_democratic forces particularly against the dictatorship of General Ayyub Khan. These were the reasons that the feudalist segment stood against him. The same has been happening with Mr.Mahmood Khan Achakzai. Although, the policy of Mr.Achakzai has been reconciliatory, and call them own people who have deviated from the path. But, on the other side, a myriad of its founding members of the party are of the opinion that countless feudals have been the big wigs of the party. Despite this criticism, this reality cannot be set aside that majority of the leadership of PKMAP belongs to the middle class. The pertinent example is the current MPA Mr. Nasurullah Khan zairai, who has been in this party since his youth when he was a prime figure of PSO politics. No human being is perfect and every individual may have weaknesses. People may criticize Mr.Mahmood Khan Achakzai, but cannot even talk about his credibility, his corruption-free life, his commitment to democracy, and last but not least upon his leadership and love for his party and his nation. He is a few of the leaders who can pave way for peace in the Pashtun region. He is undoubted, a ray of hope for the nation which has been at a critical stage of its existence.
