Syed Akhunzada Chattan

Syed Akhunzada Chattan is a Pakistani politician and a prominent leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan between 2008 and 2013. Additionally, he previously held the position of president for the FATA Political Alliance.

Early life and education

Chattan was born on January 20, 1968, in Amankot, located within the Bajaur Agency. He completed his initial studies at the Bajaur Degree College in Khar. Following his graduation, he sought further education in the arts. In 1990, he gained admission to the Fine Arts Department of the University of Peshawar.

His involvement in student politics began during his academic years. Chattan served as the president of the People’s Students Federation (PSF) for the Malakand division in 1985. He remained an active leader within the PSF while studying at the University of Peshawar. By 1993, he was elevated to the position of PSF provincial chairman for the North-West Frontier Province.

Career

The politician has maintained a long affiliation with the Pakistan Peoples Party. In the 2008 Pakistani general election, Chattan contested the NA-44 (Tribal Area-IX) constituency. Although he ran on the PPP ticket, records indicate he was elected to the National Assembly as an independent candidate. He secured 6,257 votes during this election to defeat the independent candidate Shahab Uddin Khan.

His primary opponents in the 2008 race included Maulvi Fazil of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Guldad Khan of the Awami National Party. Chattan later sought re-election for the same constituency in the 2013 Pakistani general election. He ran as a candidate for the PPP during this period. However, he was unsuccessful in his bid and received 4,127 votes. Shahab Uddin Khan, representing the Pakistan Muslim League (N), won the seat.

As a leader, Chattan has advocated for the rights of people living in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He previously led the FATA Political Alliance to champion these causes. During his time as an MNA, he offered to broker a truce with the Taliban. This proposal involved using an independent jirga if the government accepted specific recommendations.

Personal life

Chattan is an amateur painter and an artist. His father was a senior leader within the PPP, though he now focuses his time on preaching. Chattan himself has spent 40 days engaged in preaching activities. His family has faced significant security challenges due to his political standing.

On August 17, 2015, gunmen kidnapped his 9-year-old son, Hussain Shah, in Bajaur. The boy was successfully rescued the following day. In the early hours of March 18, 2018, militants targeted Chattan's residence in Amankot. A rocket struck the mud-made boundary wall of the house while Chattan was present. No injuries were reported during this specific attack. Following the incident, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari issued a condemnation of the strike.