A matter of reputation: ‘Media failing to portray K-P’s true nature’

Residents of walled city say province is filled with peace-loving people.

PESHAWAR:

Local and foreign media may portray Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as a land where all manner of crime takes place. However, residents of the historic walled city claim the province is filled with cultured and peace-loving people.

“K-P is not a safe haven for terrorists. Rather, it is a land of hospitable, courageous and peaceful people,” said Dr Hamdullah of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH).

In September 2014, the Canadian Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, alleged during his visit to Afghanistan that Taliban are trained in Balochistan, Waziristan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and some parts of Karachi.  Hamdullah, however, said these allegations are baseless, reiterating that Pukhtuns are actually the victims and not the terrorists.

Citing the examples of Aitzaz Hasan Bangash and Samina Baig, the doctor said these personalities were a symbol of courage. He said Aitzaz, a resident of Hangu district, saved the lives of hundreds of students and teachers by sacrificing his own life.

Hamdullah added this was a prime example of bravery. The national hero was posthumously given an award for his bravery by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and also awarded the Sitara-e-Shujaat by the Pakistan government.

Dr Hamdullah also spoke of Samina, who became the first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest. He said the Hunza native is also one of the nation’s heroes.

Ibad, a resident of Saddar, complained that the media overlooked K-P’s softer image.

Recalling Shad Begum’s work to improve the lives of women, he said she was given the 2012 International Women of Courage Award. Ibad said the native of Lower Dir was the first Pakistani to be given the prestigious US award.

Concluding his conversation by remembering Malala Yousafzai’s Nobel Peace Prize win, he said the girls’ education activist was a “champion of peace”. He added the people of the province, in general, are promoters of peace, patriotism and courage.



Other locals pointed to the sacrifices of Frontier Constabulary commandant Sifwat Ghayur, AIG Malik Saad, SP Rural Khursheed Khan, law-enforcement personnel and those who sacrificed their lives in the APS massacre as examples of valour. They said such people prove that K-P is a land of peace-loving and courageous people.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2015.