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Abdul Samad Khan Achackzai
Abdul Samad khan was born on 7th of the July in 1907 in Tehsil Gulistan of British Baluchistan. His father’s name was Noor Muhammad who was a famous scholar. Abdul Samad Khan had a brother Abdul Salam and two sisters. Barkhudar khan was his grandfather who accompanied Ahmad Shah Baba in a great battle of Panipat. His family member also fought against the British in Maiwand and defeated the British. The entire life he spent for the freedom of people for this he spent half of his life in jail. But he did not stop his struggle for freedom of the people and at last martyred on the 2nd of December 1973.
Educational contribution
Abdul Samad Khan got his early education from his father at home. He learned Arabic, Persian .and studied Hadith, Tafseer of Quran, and the book of imam Ghazali at the age of seven-year. He also got modern education from school. As he got the necessary knowledge which was the requirement of the beginning of the 20th century so he contributed his efforts to enlighten their people by education. He wrote many books and pamphlets e.g. Pashto Zhaba au Likdoon, Zama Zhond, Samad-ul-Lughat, and Pashto Zaban aur Rasmulkhat. Furthermore, he translated the work of Imam Ghazali, Sheikh Saadi, Abdul Kalam Azad, and Maulana Shibli Nomani which are as follows Azadi ka ufaq, Gulistan-i-Saadi, Tarjuman-ul-Quran, Sirat-ul-Nabi, and Chema-i-Sadaat.
Political contributions
Abdul Samad Khan showed his leadership quality even in his teenager. He was just 11 years old when he led the group of the students at Gulistan in confirmation with the Khilafat Movement demonstrating against the British. So for the first time in his life, he was caught by the British and was remained 28 days in jail. In 1930 he decided to establish a democratic political party but he was arrested for six months. When he was released he at once went to Bombay and met Gandhi who was on the way to England to attend the Round Table Conference. He also met there with great leaders who were working for the oppressed people i.e. Baacha khan and Ghous Bux Bezinjo. When he came back to Quetta he was arrested by the British with the help of pro-British Jirga. After spending two years in jail when he was released, he increased his struggle for the oppressed people of Baluchistan along with Bloch leaders. In 1938 he issued a newspaper Istiqlal. It was his very great achievement this was the first newspaper issued in British Baluchistan. This newspaper helped the local people to get political awareness.
Anjuman-i-Watan
The articles written in the newspaper helped the people to get united against the British for their rights. To see the circumstances favorable the Abdul Samad khan and his courageous Bloch leaders Khuse Bukh Bezenjo and Moulana Obedullah of Bostan, launched a political party “Anjuman-i-Watan” in 1939. Abdul Samad khan was made president of the party. It was the first organized political party in Baluchistan. In 1939 Abdul Samad khan and Baacha Khan toured Baluchistan to tell the upcoming challenges from the 2nd world war. In 1942 when the Indian National Congress started Quit India Movement against the British. So to impose the pressure on British Anjuman-i-Watan party also started the same movement in British Baluchistan. So with the continuous efforts of both Bloch and Pashtun under the great leadership of Samad Khan, they compelled the British to withdraw from Baluchistan. When Pakistan was created in 1947, so according to the 3rd June plan referendum was held in NWFP and Baluchistan to decide that whether wanted to join India or Pakistan. In Baluchistan “shahi” Jirga decided the fate of the people after a long debate between congress led by Abdul Samad khan and Ghous Bux Bizenjo and the Muslim league camp led by Qazi Muhammad Essa and Mir Jaffer they joined Pakistan. After the creation of Pakistan Abdul Samad khan who was affiliated with congress and Baacha khan, change its manifesto and announced loyalty to the Pakistani state. In 1948 Samad khan met Najibullah and after met Bacha khan the government of Pakistan arrested him and considered him an Indian agent. When he was released after six-year in 1954 he formed a political party “Wrore Pakhtoon” Pashtun Brotherhood. The party aimed to educate the local people. This party also demanded the holding of a referendum on the question of accepting or rejecting American military aid. Once again he was arrested and was released by Lahore high court after his innocence was proved. One unit was established in the country in 1955 he opposed it because he was in the favor of Provincial autonomy. Against this problem he and Bacha khan join together and made the foundation of the National Awami Party (NAP). This party was made against one unit. In 1958 first Martial law was imposed and he was the first victim of Ayub khan. Abdul Samad was arrested on the 2nd day of martial law and was remained in jail for 14 years. He was in prison when he was told that NAP is divided into two groups i.e. WALI khan and Bashani group. In 1969 NAP Wali khan group in a meeting of IDAC (Itehad Demonstration action committee) did not suggest anything and did not ask for a single province of Chatral to Bolan. After that Ayub khan called a conference and freed all political prisoners. When he was released from jail he quit from NAP and founded the Pakhtoonkhwa Mili Awami party. He became the chairman of the party. In the 1970 general election, he won the Provincial seat by the flat form of PMAP. He was the first opposition leader of the Baluchistan assembly. He appreciated the 1973 constitution and called Pakistan a sovereign state. His struggle for other people was quit by unknown persons when he was martyred on the 2nd of December 1973.