Asfand Yar Wali Khan | Party Leader – ANP
Asfandyar Wali Khan was born in Charsadda, then a small village outside of Peshawar, khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan. He is the eldest son of Khan Abdul Wali Khan and his first wife Taj Bibi. After the death of his mother in February 1949 his father remarried Mrs.Nasim Wali Khan in 1954. Sangeen Wali Khan was his stepbrother and eldest son of Nasim Wali Khan.
Charsadda, the political nerve centre of the NWFP, is an area where religion, nationalism, Khanism and the violent peasant movement of 1970s, still have a deep mark on the local politics. The ‘Walis’ are one of the two important political families of the district; ‘Sherpaos’ being the other. Charsadda is the traditional stronghold of Awami National Party, heir to the political legacy of Khaudai Khidmatgar Movement of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Bacha Khan. Asfandyar Wali’s father, Khan Abdul Wali Khan, was the party’s second President.
His father, Khan Abdul Wali Khan
His father, Khan Abdul Wali Khan, was the party”s first President. He is the grandson of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, better known as “Badshah Khan “King of Khans”. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was the founder of the non-violent Pashtun political movement, Khudai Khidmatgar (“Servants of God”) in undivided India and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Asfandyar’s uncle Dr. Khan Sahib was the Congress Party”s Chief Minister of the Northwest Frontier Province, during the waning days of the British Raj, and also the Chief Minister of the province during the early days of independent Pakistan. Asfandyar is the present President of the Awami National Party and has served as Member of Provincial Assembly, Member of National Assembly and presently Senator in Pakistan’s Parliament.
Asfandyar Wali Khan was born in Charsadda, a small village outside of Peshawar, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan. He is the eldest son of Khan Abdul Wali Khan and his first wife Taj Bibi. After the death of his mother in February 1949 his father remarried, to Nasim Wali Khan in 1954. Sangeen Wali Khan was his stepbrother and eldest son of Nasim Wali Khan.
Education
Asfandyar Wali Khan completed his early education from Aitchison College, Lahore, High School from Islamia Collegiate School and his BA from Islamia College, Peshawar Pakhtoon Khwa University of Peshawar.
Completed Esfandiar Wali Khan and his early education from the College of Aitchison, Lahore, and a BSc from the University of Peshawar.
Joined Esfandiar Wali Khan, the opposition to Ayub Khan, an activist student. In 1975, he was imprisoned and tortured by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was convicted as part of the Court of Hyderabad for 15 years. Stayed released in 1978, away from electoral politics until 1990.
Served Esfandiar Wali Khan, leader of the Pakhtun Student Federation prior to his election as President of the Assembly of the province in the 1990 elections, while in the elections of 1993 was elected president of the National Assembly of Pakistan. To any seat and was re-elected in the National Assembly in the 1997 elections and served as parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party and chairman of the permanent Inter-provincial coordination.
In 1999, he was elected president of the party for the first time. Was defeated in the 2002 elections, in what was to repeat his father’s defeat” S in 1990, when tactical alliance was formed by all the groups of anti-Awami National Party in against him. After his defeat he resigned as head of his party, only to be re-elected by acclamation at the party elections later. In 2003 he was elected to the Senate as Senator for 6 years. Was re-elected in the National Assembly in the parliamentary elections that took place in February 2008, the leadership of his party to power both at the provincial level and at the national level, in the past for the first time since 1947 and second since 1997.
Political career
Joined Esfandiar Wali Khan, the opposition to Ayub Khan, an activist student. In 1975, he was imprisoned and tortured by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was convicted as part of the Court of Hyderabad for 15 years. Stayed released in 1978, away from electoral politics until 1990 ..
Served Esfandiar Wali Khan, leader of the Pakhtun Student Federation prior to his election as President of the Assembly of the province in the 1990 elections, while in the elections of 1993 was elected president of the National Assembly of Pakistan. To any seat and was re-elected in the National Assembly in the 1997 elections and served as parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party and chairman of the permanent Inter-provincial coordination.In 1999, he was elected party president for the first time. He was defeated in the 2002 election, in what was a repeat of his father’s defeat in 1990, when a tactical alliance was formed by all the anti-ANP groups against him. After his defeat he resigned as President of his party, only to be re-elected unopposed in the subsequent party election. In 2003 he was elected to the Senate as Senator for a 6 year term. He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the parliamentary elections that was held on February 2008, leading his party to power both provincially and nationally, the former for the first time since 1947 and the latter since 1997.
In September 2008, he was elected as Chairman of the standing committee on foreign Affairs.
In 2008 it was reported by Dawn that he made a secret visit to the United States in which he made high level contacts with the U.S Central Command.
Assassination attempt
On 3 October 2008, he was targeted by a suicide bomber who attempted to kill him while he was greeting guests during Eid ul-Fitr. Shortly after the attack, Asfandyar Wali Khan left Charsadda in a helicopter sent by the Prime Minister. He has come under severe criticism by certain elements who alleged that he should have stayed after the attack and attended funerals of the deceased, instead of escaping his home. However, this charge has been dismissed by his supporters as concocted by supporters of Taliban. It has been stated that: “Asfandyar Wali Khan has not fled the country. He is away from the country, no doubt, and is busy with personal and party commitments abroad.”
Asfandyar Wali Khan (ANP) Pictures
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