Senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) Begum Naseem Wali Khan passed away on Sunday in Charsadda. She was being treated at her home in Charsadda and passed away due to cardiac and diabetic complications.
Begum Naseem’s funeral prayers will be offered at 6 pm at Wali Bagh, Charsadda, according to a statement issued by ANP spokesperson.
She was the first woman from the province to get elected in the the provincial assembly in 1977. In total, she got elected three times and also served as the provincial and parliamentary leader for ANP.
Begum Naseem was the widow of veteran ANP leader Abdul Wali Khan and mother of Sangeen Wali and Asfandyar Wali.
Begum Wali joined politics in 1975, after her husband, who was a Pushtoon nationalist, was arrested and his party National Awami Party banned by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She took over the party, and successfully campaigned for Wali Khan’s release.
In 2014, after political differences, she made a new party by the name of ANP (Wali). ANP has announced a three-day mourning and suspended party activities.