unrecognised by the government…it is sad at the contrast years after the jallinwala Bagh massacre the Indians obtained an apology from the British government by comparison the Qissa Khwani massacre is not even recognised by the government.
http://www.statesman.com.pk/city/city.htm
A day for remembering the shuhada of Qissa Khwani
By Syed Zahir Shah Sherazi
PESHAWAR: Glowing tributes were paid here on Sunday to those sons of the soil who laid down their lives at Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Peshawar on April 23, 1930 during struggle for freedom.
A literary, cultural and social welfare organisation, Gandhara Hindko Board, arranged ‘Shaheedan-i-Peshor Conference’ at the Archives Hall, staged a rally in Qissa Khwani Bazaar and took out a procession to mark the occasion.
The Nazim of Town II Peshawar Sharif was the chief guest on the occasion while a senior journalist, Sharif Farooq presided over the event.
The speakers highlighted the importance of the sacrifice offered in Peshawar on April 23, 1930. Those who expressed their views included Gandhara Hindko Board chairman Professor Dr Zahoor Ahmad Awan, vice-chairman Assistant Professor Dr Adnan Gul, secretary Mohammad Ziauddin, Khwaja Yawer Nasser (Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians), Hakim Abdul Waheed (naib amir of NWFP chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami), Haji Mohammad Haleem Jan, Professor Dr Anwar Fazil Chishti, Sharafat Ali Mubarik (Pakistan Muslim League), Mohammad Sharif, Dr Mohammad Salahuddin and Sharif Farooq,
Professor Dr Zahoor Ahmad Awan said that the history of the freedom movement was incomplete without mentioning the countless sacrifices rendered by the people of this part of the subcontinent. He saluted those people who laid down their lives in Qissa Khwani, Peshawar on April 23, 1930 while resisting the Colonial oppressive rule. He called for highlighting the event as it was a turning point in the Independence Movement.
Assistant Professor Dr Adnan Gul said that the brave Hindkowans of Peshawar, Kohat, Hazara, Pothwar and Kashmir regions struggled for Pakistan, but were always ignored by the successive governments after independence. Recalling the services of the Hindkowans to the province, he said a Hindkowan chief minister gave first university to Peshawar, but deplored that there was no Department for Hindko Studies in the same university and Hindko Academy or a Hindko Adabi Board at the official level which was an injustice to an ancient native language and its speakers.
Mohammad Ziauddin said Pakistan was achieved after tremendous sacrifices by the brave sons of Peshawar and other parts of the province.
He said it was strange to note that while the Jalyianwala massacre was known to all and sundry, but people were intentionally kept unaware of the blood of the 400 people spilled in Peshawar on April 23, 1930. He said the today’s function was held to inform our present generation of the great sacrifices offered by our forefathers for the cause of freedom. Zia said apart from making efforts for the preservation and promotion of Hindko language and Hindkowan culture, the Gandhara Hindko Board considered it as its sacred duty to remember with reverence all those freedom fighters who struggled for Pakistan.
Hakeem Abdul Waheed said that the people of Peshawar should relive the spirit that they had exhibited on April 23, 1930 and work with unity for the prosperity of this City and its inhabitants. He asked the youths to emulate their forefathers.
Haji Haleem Jan praised a former mayor of Peshawar Saeed Ahmad Jan who erected monuments in early 1980s to honour the Qissa Khawani martyrs.
He said majority of those martyred on April 23, 1930 were the people of Peshawar, and offered to produce documentary proof to substantiate his claim.
He requested the audience to work for the promotion of the Hindko language and extend help to the Gandhara Hindko Board which was working towards that end.
At the end, three resolutions were passed that urged the government to include the Qissa Khawani firing case in the course of studies at schools, construct a grand monument in Peshawar in memory of those 400 people who embraced martyrdom on April 23, 1930 and facilitate research at the university level to dig more information on the firing incident.
Earlier, the programme started with recitation from the Holy Quran. Sikander Hyat Sikander and his team paid poeticised tributes to the martyrs of 1930.
Fawad Jehanzeb and his mates recited a naat. Syed Iqbal Hussain Shah led prayers for the martyrs of April 23, 1930.
The office-bearers and workers of the Gandhara Hindko Board placed floral wreaths on the monuments erected in Qissa Khawani. Speeches were also made at the rally staged in Qissa Khawani Bazaar. A procession was taken out that reached the Archives Hall after passing through various City bazaars.