CHEEGHA – The Call from Waziristan, The Last Outpost

Description

“A true story of happiness and Romance, of curse and betrayal, from the remotest corner of the world, Waziristan.”

“Waziristan remains a mystery and a puzzle for most of the world. Reports of violence and terrorism are frequently associated with its name. For people living here, life has become a hell of uncertainty. A drone strike could kill them or their family members one day, a suicide bomber the next or action by the Pakistan army the day after. Is this all there is to Waziristan?

Ghulam Qadir Khan, sets out to show us the true face of Waziristan. He takes us to the heart of this society. We meet his family and those living in his village Darpa Khel in North Waziristan Agency. We become familiar with individuals. We meet and fall in love with members of his family. We are also introduced to the essential features of tribal society.

Unlike the previous authors, Ghulam Qadir is the only one from the area itself… The author is ideally placed to write on Waziristan. He is that rare tribesman from this area who is writing about his own people. Because Ghulam Qadir combines scholarship and experience in the field as an administrator, he is a trustworthy guide. Educated at some of the finest institutions of Pakistan – Lawrence College, Murree, and Edwards College, Peshawar – Ghulam Qadir joined the civil service of Pakistan in 1984. He has worked in the field as Deputy Commissioner and Political Agent in the Tribal Areas. In more senior postings, he has been in charge of the Tribal Areas in the planning department, and has also held the post of Secretary of Law and Order for the Tribal Areas.” Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University, Washington D.C.

The Author Ghulam Qadir Khan Daur belongs to North Waziristan Agency, Tribal Areas of Pakistan. He did his masters in Economics and attended ISS, The Hague, Netherlands and IDPM, Manchester University, England to specialize in rural development. He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1984 and served as Deputy Commissioner and Political Agent in the tribal areas. In senior positions, he was Secretary Law and Order and Secretary Finance for tribal areas.

Since the rise of militancy, he represented tribal areas in Dubai process, Wilton Park conferences in England and almost all briefings /presentations made to local and foreign delegations and has written articles on the tribal areas for reputed newspapers. He is the founding Chairperson of www.thetribaltimes.com, a web magazine on tribal areas and the Chairperson of the Society for the Protection of Rights of Tribes (SPORT) which is advocating and raising awareness against discrimination against tribal people. He has dedicated himself to improve the lot of tribesmen. Ghulam Qadir Khan combines scholarship and experience making him a trustworthy guide. He is ideally placed to write about Waziristan, his own people.

Reviews

“Cheegha is a revealing book of the atrocities that have been, and are still, committed against people of the tribal areas and which have made life hell for them in their own land. It is an interesting eye-opener and must not be missed by all those interested in monitoring developments in Fata. It should be made ‘compulsory reading’ for all those government servants who are detailed for duty in Fata”. – Ambassador (Rtd) Ayaz Wazir. The News Sunday January 18, 2015

“A fascinating account of life in one of the most turbulent regions of the world. Cheegha unlocks the many mysteries about North Waziristan and challenges the many perceptions about its people, culture, traditions and code of life. The book is a must-read for anyone who wishes to understand what happened in Waziristan. Ghulam Qadir Khan certainly is most qualified to give his version of this black chapter in Waziristan’s history “. – Jahangir Khattak, Co-Director,  Center for Community and Ethnic Media, City University of New York . Viewsweek 09/7/15

“The first serious scholarly work on Pukhtunwali, a must read for policy advisors on Fata. Since 9/11attacks, FATA has been portrayed an area totally lawless, with no respectfor human dignity and devoid of any norm of civilised world. Ghulam QadirKhan’s book Cheegha is an excellent effort to remove these misgivings. Headvocates that militancy is a fatal threat to the ways of the fathers. Theirculture which is so fulfilling, inclusive and time tested is being replaced byfaceless forces alien to this part of the world in the name of religion”. – Habibullah Khan,The News on Sunday.

Author Biography

Ghulam Qadir Khan Daur belongs to North Waziristan, Pakistan. After doing Masters in Economics from Peshawar University he went to Manchester University UK and then to ISS, Den Hague, Netherlands. He joined the Civil Services of Pakistan and worked on many important assignments including that of Political Agent and Secy Law and Order for tribal Areas. He combines scholarship and experience making him a trustworthy guide. He is ideally placed to write about the destruction of Waziristan and Pushtunwali as he saw events unfold first hand.