Uncovering the past: Meet K-P’s fourth woman to earn PhD in history

Naseem Khattak is first to conduct research on mujahideen movement

SHABQADAR: Naseem Khattak has now joined the league of pioneering figures in the field of history who have extensive knowledge and command over their subject.

She is the first woman to receive a PhD degree in history from University of Peshawar and fourth to earn the degree in the province. She is also one of the four women of the history department alumni who completed her research work on the history of the Pukhtun nation.



There is a vast list of achievements to her credit. This includes a thesis ‘Mujahideen Movement in the North-West Frontier and the role of local Pukhtun tribes’ which has received critical acclaim.

Past and future

While speaking to The Express Tribune over the telephone, Khattak said she is a housewife and has completed the research work in less than five years while juggling other responsibilities.

She thanked her colleagues and the department for extending cooperation and helping her realise her dreams.

Khattak added, “By exploring our past we can easily analyse our future.”

Commendable feat

Appreciating her contribution in the field of history, Dr Altaf Qadir who was also Khattak’s supervisor told The Express Tribune she is the first woman who earned her PhD from this department after 13 years. Before her, late Dr Ghulam Taqi Bangash, Dr Sultan and Dr Syed Minhajul Hassan got their PhDs in this field from this department.

He said Khattak works as an assistant professor in Government Degree College in Nowshera and is also the first to have conducted research on the mujahideen movement, which bears historical significance.

Similarly, History Department Chairman at Quaid-e-Azam University Dr Syed Waqar Ali Shah expressed his satisfaction on Khattak’s endeavours.

“I am happy that the Pukhtun scholar has started work on the history of Pukhtun land,” he said. “Rare research work has been done in this area. Khattak’s work will improve the image of the people of the K-P.”

One of Naseem’s old time colleague and a PhD scholar, Asfandyar Durrani, told The Express Tribune, “Naseem Khattak is the fourth woman in K-P who completed her PhD in history which is a great honour for us and for the province.” He commented, “Unfortunately, not enough academic work was carried out on Pukhtun history and it is not even taught in the history department.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st,  2016.