Senior ANP leader Haji Adeel dies in Peshawar

Funeral prayers will be offered at 4pm at Jinnah Park Peshawar

Senior nationalist politician and vice president of the Awami National Party (ANP), Haji Muhammad Adeel passed away in Peshawar on Friday.

The 72-year-old died following a cardiac arrest. He had been admitted to the hospital several times over the past one year. His funeral prayers will be offered at 4pm at Peshawar’s Jinnah Park today.



Adeel, who belonged to a prominent Hindko speaking family of Peshawar, was born on October 25, 1944. His father Hakim Abdul Jaleel Nadvi was a freedom fighter associated with the all India National Congress Party, following which he became an active member of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan alias Bacha Khan's Khudai Khidmatgar movement.

Being familiar with business and economic matters of the country,  Adeel served as finance minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 1993. He was elected thrice in the provincial assembly and served as deputy speaker of the K-P assembly from 1997-1999.

He was one of the longest serving senators, who served office from 2009 to 2015. The ANP nominated him for senate when he was 66-years-old. As a staunch nationalist, he has forcefully raised the issue of renaming the erstwhile NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa.

Besides being a veteran politician, Adeel was also an avid art lover and enjoyed painting, however, this aspect of his life was little known to many. He served as vice president of Abasin Art Council, the only art promoting organisation of the province. He also remained president of the Edward Colleges’ fine art society.  He had made tiresome efforts to construct an art academy and an art gallery in Peshawar with the Nishtar Hall, but it could not materialise.



Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of the senior ANP leader and seasoned politician. The premier said that the contributions and services of the late politician in strengthening Pakistan’s democracy are praiseworthy.

“Haji Adeel believed and worked for promotion of democratic norms in Pakistan,” PM Nawaz said. Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the demise of Haji Adeel. He prayed for the departed soul and sympathised with the bereaved family.