No doubt the country has lost an erudite and astute politician in the death of former Senator and senior leader of Awami National Party (ANP) Haji Adeel, who passed away after protracted ailment. He was 74.
Born on October 25, 1944, Haji Adeel was elected member provincial assembly for three consecutive terms in 1990, 1993 and 1997. He also served as provincial minister in 1993 for a brief period in the cabinet of Chief Minister Pir Sabir Shah. He has also represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on National Finance Commission (NFC) for Seventh NFC Award.
In the provincial assembly elected after the elections of 1997, he was elected as Deputy Speaker till the military take-over by General Pervez Musharraf in October 1999. That Haji Adeel played a highly important role in the politics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North West Frontier Province) is a fact. The Awami National Party (ANP), which is often described as the reincarnation of National Awami Party (NAP) has in fact lost two towering personalities. While Haji Adeel died last week Bashir Bilour was killed in a terrorist attack nearly two years ago. The conduct of these politicians was guided by deep ethics.