Press Release

Karachi: The Awami Workers Paty (AWP) leadership expresses profound grief over the passing away of veteran politician Begum Nasim Wali Khan, who play a pioneering role in the mainstream politics of Pakistan.

In their condolence messages the AWP Federal President Yousuf Mustikhan, secretary-general Akhtar Hussain, Deputy Secretary Ismat Shahjehan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Akhundzada Haider Zaman expressed sympathies with the ANP leadership and family members of the late leader.

They acknowledged her contribution to mainstream politics, especially her role in encouraging women to join politics. She broke all social barriers in an orthodox patriarchal society and led her party. Her legacy will keep on inspiring many young female activists to fight for the emancipation of women.

She courageously led her party at a time in the 70s when the ZA Bhutto government arrested her husband along with many leaders of the then National Awami Party and instituted treason case against them.

Her leadership skills could be gauged from the fact that in 1994, she was elected as provincial president of ANP and served for four consecutive terms. She never lost elections and was elected to the provincial assembly four times.

Mr Mustikhan termed the death of Begum Nasim Wali a huge loss to the Pakhtuns, in general, and the ANP, in particular, as she led the party at a tumultuous time of Pakistani politics. The KP was witnessing a dramatic changes due to proxy war in the region and the party was at a crossroads.

The void created by her death will hard be filled, the statement added.