Col (r) Ikram Ullah Khan
Alas! Amirullah Khan Yaftali, a towering figure of his time, has finally left us for eternity after having fought a long courageous battle against a fatal disease. We feel devastated at his sad departure.
Born into a well-known political family of Subedar Gul Wali Khan, more famously known as Baba -e-Laspur, a legendary figure of his time, he rose to prominence and earned an abiding fame in his own right.
He joined active politics in late 70s and started his political career by joining Tehreek-e-Istiqlal, a political party founded by Air Marshal (r) Asghar Khan. He continued his rocky and tumultuous political journey with full zest and vigour and never looked back despite daunting challenges coming his way.
He was elected as member district council (MDC) thrice in a row and served the people of his constituency in most befitting manner. He saw many ups and downs during his mercurial political career, but being a man of iron will and dogged determination, he never gave in to adversities whenever he found himself pitted against adversarial circumstances.
His hospitality and generosity of spirit remains proverbial. Wearing an enduring smile on his face, Yaftali would always welcome his guests and entertain them with customary geniality marked by vivacity and warmth quite in keeping with his lofty family traditions.
Continuing with the great family legacy of proverbial hospitality and generosity, Yafatli has set a very high benchmark not only for his sons but other members of his great family too, which may prove to be quite challenging for the young family members; but I am sure they will acquit themselves well, and on no occasion would disappoint friends, relatives and family affiliates.
Amirullah Khan Yaftali embarked upon a rocky journey into an uncharted region with an aim to establishing a museum under the name of “Heritage Museum Laspur” which he succeeded to institute after a long arduous struggle spanning over 40 long years, which finally catapulted him to an enduring fame not only locally but also at national level.
I remember how he took pains of unimaginable proportions while visiting each and every household located far and wide in far-flung areas in a bid to collect the antiques and relics of ancient civilization, at times making payment for some of them.
The museum contains a treasure trove of the ancient cultural heritage of Chitral. This remarkable feat of unusual stature alone is sufficient to make Amirullah Khan Yaftali immortal in the eyes of his friends and foes alike. His lone and unaided struggle towards establishing this museum merits government’s recognition and calls for a posthumous award which, I’m sure, wouldn\’t go off the KPK government\’s radar.
May Allah (SWT) rest his soul in eternal peace.