End of an era: Political leaders attend Azam Hoti’s soyem
Afghan President Ghani telephones to express condolences
Late Azam Khan Hoti. PHOTO: DUNYAURDU
PESHAWAR/MARDAN:
The soyem of veteran Awami National Party leader Senator Azam Khan Hoti was held at Hoti House in his native hometown on Friday.
Leaders from across the political spectrum attended the ceremony in Mardan and offered condolences to former chief minister Amir Haider Hoti over the demise of his father.
CM Pervez Khattak, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, JI Chief Sirajul Haq, former governor Masood Kausar and former chairman Senate Waseem Sajjad were among the notable attendees. Condolences also poured in from across the border as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Amir and extended sympathies over the death. A recitation of the Quran was also held.
In the pages of history
The late leader’s father was a close aide of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. It was Azam’s struggle that brought the Hoti clan to the fore of Mardan’s political scene.
He had initially joined the army and was commissioned in 1967. Azam even participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and quit the service only after clashes occurred between Pukhtun activists and the armed forces at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi on March 23, 1973.
Unhappy with the injustices, he left the country for Afghanistan and returned in 1979 only after military dictator Ziaul Haq announced general amnesty for Pukhtun leaders. Azam was elected as an MNA for the first time during the early 90’s and became a federal minister twice. He was also elected as a senator between 1993 and 1996.
The motorway is said to have been the brainchild of Azam from the time when he was the minister of state for communication. He is credited with reorganising the party and steering it towards success in the 2008 general elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2015.
The soyem of veteran Awami National Party leader Senator Azam Khan Hoti was held at Hoti House in his native hometown on Friday.
Leaders from across the political spectrum attended the ceremony in Mardan and offered condolences to former chief minister Amir Haider Hoti over the demise of his father.
CM Pervez Khattak, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, JI Chief Sirajul Haq, former governor Masood Kausar and former chairman Senate Waseem Sajjad were among the notable attendees. Condolences also poured in from across the border as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called Amir and extended sympathies over the death. A recitation of the Quran was also held.
In the pages of history
The late leader’s father was a close aide of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. It was Azam’s struggle that brought the Hoti clan to the fore of Mardan’s political scene.
He had initially joined the army and was commissioned in 1967. Azam even participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and quit the service only after clashes occurred between Pukhtun activists and the armed forces at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi on March 23, 1973.
Unhappy with the injustices, he left the country for Afghanistan and returned in 1979 only after military dictator Ziaul Haq announced general amnesty for Pukhtun leaders. Azam was elected as an MNA for the first time during the early 90’s and became a federal minister twice. He was also elected as a senator between 1993 and 1996.
The motorway is said to have been the brainchild of Azam from the time when he was the minister of state for communication. He is credited with reorganising the party and steering it towards success in the 2008 general elections.
The last few years of his life were marred by family disputes and his death trumpets the end of an era of political activism within the folds of the ANP.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2015.