This picture, taken on 13th July 2023 at 11.30 AM inside Shams Buneri’s bed cum study room, reflects the life of a dedicated freedom fighter whose dreams of freedom and equality remained unrealized during his lifetime. Hailing from the historic District of Buner, where the legacy of the famous Ambela pass campaign resonated, Shams carried forward the torch of nationalism as a student leader. Despite enduring terms of imprisonment and exile in Afghanistan, he fervently aspired for a better future.
Shams Buneri, a well-read and knowledgeable individual, hailed from a region that lagged in education compared to Swat, the former capital of the princely state before its merger with Pakistan in 1969.
Authoring four books, starting with the revolutionary publication named “Sur Sahar” in Pushto (Red Morning) in 1977, he was forced into self-exile in Afghanistan when Khan Abdul Wali Khan of the ANP was imprisoned in Hyderabad jail.
While I regret not having had more time to delve into his thoughts and experiences, my grievance lies with the Awami National Party leadership, which I shared with him. I conveyed my concern over their perceived betrayal of Afghanistan and the Afghan Royal family during the Russian invasion, as well as their silence over the subsequent rise of militancy in Pukhtun populated areas. This lingering ember continues to threaten lives in KP, while the ANP leadership enjoys their free ride in the PDM bandwagon, leaving dedicated nationalists like Shams Buneri heartbroken and questioning the party’s nationalist credentials.
Today, as people gather to offer Namaz Janaza at his ancestral village of Ghazi Khani on Wednesday, 2nd August 2023, at 11 AM, to bid farewell to a man who dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of freedom and social equality. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, especially his son Advocate Riaz Jan. May the ANP leadership honor their old guard, whose loyalty to the party’s cause remained unwavering despite all odds. May Shams Buneri rest in peace, and may his legacy inspire future generations to fight for the values he held dear.
