Saturday October 25, 2014
Kabul (BNA) Late King, Mohammad Zahir Shah’s 100th birth anniversary was marked in Kabul.
According to BNA, the ceremony was attended by a number of political, cultural figures and civil society activists. Afghanistan’s last king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, son of Mohammad Nader Shah Ghazi, was born in 1914 in Kabul. He became King of the country at the age of 19, and ruled the country for 40 years (from 1933 to 1973). His kingdom was known for peace, unity and education. During his rule Afghanistan achieved tangible improvements in education, agriculture, culture, industry, higher education and other sectors. His term was a turning point for Afghanistan to step in era of democracy. A constitution was drafted and enforced allowing dozens of reforms and giving rights to civil activities, human rights and women. For the first time in 1963 the democratic Afghan constitution was enforced and Afghanistan was included in the list of the world’s democratic countries.
During the Afghan Jihad against Russia he stood with his nation and wanted freedom of his country from invaders. Also during the civil war he played his role as a national leader in bringing peace and stability for his country. He suggested a traditional Loya Jirga to find solution to the pro-longed conflicts among Afghans. President Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, in his message read in the seminar, called late Mohammad Zahir Shah, a patriot and democratic Afghan, who served his nation with honesty and bravery. Even in exile he was in search of peace and stability for his country and people. President said that late Zahir Shah during the war and conflicts always called on involved sides in war to resolve their problems through dialogue and talks not through bullets or use of force. “Today we are gathered to appreciate late Mohammad Zahir Shah for his struggle and sacrifices that he rendered for prosperity of his country.”
He also congratulated and appreciated the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan for facilitating the anniversary event. CEO of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, in his message also appreciated struggle and role of the late King for bringing, practicing and enforcing democracy in his country. He said Afghan people will never forget King Zahir Shah for his efforts in Afghanistan’s Jihad. CEO in his message said the late king had done more and always tried for prosperity of the nation. Ex-President Hamid Karzai said that he holds more good memories of King Mohammad Zahir Shah and remember his wishes that he had for prosperity of Afghanistan and Afghans. He said, “My father Shaheed Abdul Ahad Karzai was close friend of late Mohammad Zahir Shah. And I also knew him closely and he was always giving me best advices. He was considering all Afghans owners of Afghanistan and all Afghans were equal for him. He believed that Afghanistan will finally have a good government and a united nation to work for prosperity of public.” His dream came true now, the former president said.
“Once upon a time I was with the late king in Italy and said to him that in Afghanistan there is no proper stand against the neighbor’s invasion. He told me that there is resistance. I told him it is in one limited place. He told me resistance in one area means resistance in all around the country,” Karzai recalled. “In 2002 when the Taliban regime was collapsed and I became president of Afghanistan, I went to meet late king Mohammad Zahir Shah and to get advice from him. When he was returning back to Afghanistan, he (King Zahir Shah) gifted me the Holy Quran and told me that in light of Quran serve your nation.” He said the late king was never interested in power or to be president of the country, but he always wanted to live as a common citizen. His final wish was to spend his remaining life in Afghanistan and to be buried in his country.
Minister of Information and Culture, Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, on the occasion said that Mohammad Zahir shah ruled the country for 40 years, but he never created problems for anyone and never let opportunists to destabilize the country or create conflicts. He said that King Zahir Shah was a democrat person in the region. “He was always saying that democracy was never a slogan for him, but democracy flows as blood in his body and soul. Despite he was in exile in Italy, but he never forgot his country and his people and always was thinking about how to resolve problems and end conflicts that his people were faced with in Afghanistan,” Dr. Raheen said. He said when King heard about destruction of Bayan Buddha he got sick and was hospitalized due to the sadness and stress he had. “He loved his country and people.” King Zahir Shah left the country in 1973 and lived in exile in Italy for twenty-nine years in a villa in the affluent community of Olgiata on Via Cassia, north of Rome tending to his garden. He returned back to Afghanistan in 2003 where he inaugurated the Loya Jirga. Following his return from exile, he was given the title Baba ‘Father of the Nation’ in 2003, which he held until his death. He had traveled to different parts of the country during his rule and had good relationships with tribal elders and public. During his rule period Afghanistan’s first modern university was founded.
He always hated conflicts and was working for peace and stability of the country. On July 23, 2007, he died in the compound of the presidential palace in Kabul after prolonged illness. His death was announced on national television by President Hamid Karzai. His coffin was taken to the royal mausoleum on Maranjan Hill and was buried there. Likewise, at this ceremony, former minister of commerce and industries, Mir Mohammad Amin Farhang, head of martyred Ahmad Shah Masoud’s foundation, Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of ARCS, Ms. Fatema Gailani and head of national union of journalists of Afghanistan, Abdul Hamid Mubarez spoke around personality and life of His Majesty Mohammad Zahir Shah and the memories they had with themselves from this learned man. The ceremony was ended with praying to the clean soul of the bereaved.
