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PM Imran's book club: This December, he recommends reading History of the Pathans

PM Imran's book club: This December, he recommends reading History of the Pathans

"Volume 7 which I am reading is about Pathan tribes like mine who came from Afghanistan and settled in various parts of India."
Updated 14 Dec, 2020

With juggling household responsibilities, study workload and long working hours, pleasure reading has been pushed down most of our lists — but with Imran Khan recommending a book on the regular, we're thinking if the Prime Minister can make time, so can we!

"This month I recommend the book History of the Pathans by Brig (r) Haroon Rashid," the former cricket legend encouraged.

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"Volume 7 which I am reading is about Pathan tribes like mine who came to India from Afghanistan in the last one thousand years and settled in various parts of India," he said, adding that it traces the role they played in shaping the history of the Subcontinent.

The author, considered a son of the Kohat soil unveiled not just the history, but the cultural heritage and traditions of Pathan land. While to many, the name suggests they are a native of Afghanistan or the North West Frontier of Pakistan; to most, the race with its extremely complicated ramification into various tribes and clans, is still a mystery.

Previously, Khan's November recommendation included Capitalism's Achilles Heel, an eye-opening account of how white collar criminals, businessmen and politicians illegally launder dirty money, and its impact on individuals, institutions and countries.

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak, narrating the tales of Maulana Jalal-ud-Din Rumi and his companion Shams Tabraiz, also made it to his list in October, and personally, we loved the mystic reading experience.

It's not just books; the premier has also found the time to recommend some TV shows. Everyone is well aware of Khan's love for Diliris Ertugrul that eventually got the entire nation hooked. Others include Yunus Emre: Aşkin Yolculuğu, the story of a great Sufi, Islamic poet, mystic and poor villager who wholly dedicated his life to Allah and searching for unity.

Comments

Shabash Dec 14, 2020 12:46pm
Imran khan is not pathan.
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Imtiaz Ali Khan Dec 14, 2020 12:58pm
Pathans are pride of Pakistan. Brave people there is Pakistan's Armed Forces than we have a backup trained forces called the Pathan. Love Pathan people coming from a Sindhi. Love you all humanity.
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A Khan Dec 14, 2020 12:59pm
Love his recommendations! Finally we've got a PM who actually reads books (and likes to read).
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Baasha Dec 14, 2020 01:08pm
Who are greater? Pathans or Punjabis or Sindhis or Baluchis?
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Hummingbird Dec 14, 2020 01:10pm
Pathans have Jewish ancestry.
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Random Dec 14, 2020 01:27pm
Does the history of Pathans cover the period before 570 AD.
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Fastrack Dec 14, 2020 01:36pm
Our Pukhtoon hero. Love and respect.
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Ed Dec 14, 2020 01:39pm
For the first time in memory, we have a leader who is actually recommending books. This is "Tabdeeli" is a big way. If only we can re-acquire the habit of reading instead of wasting time on morning shows and meaningless tv, it will go a long way to improve society.
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Tariq Dec 14, 2020 01:47pm
In all this chaos, he still gets time to read.
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Laila Dec 14, 2020 01:52pm
I propose PMIK reads I am Malala in January. Just get some balance in there.
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Wajahat Dec 14, 2020 02:02pm
A man is known by the books he reads: Waldo
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Nick, NY Dec 14, 2020 02:15pm
Has PM ever wondered why people are not reading books? Pay attention to the education sector; public universities are dying!
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Chrís Dăn Dec 14, 2020 02:29pm
The Forty Rules of Love-IKś first recommendation was a wonderful book. I am going to trust his taste again as I had always wished to know the roots of my paternal ancesstors who had started from Afghanistan/Qandhar & settled in Lahore centuries ago-even much earlier than British arrival in sub-continent. Hence much intrigied by the book.
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Chrís Dăn Dec 14, 2020 02:31pm
@Shabash as per all basic principles of anthropology and archealogy,which determine our root ethnicity as our base identity-he is a Pathan . Pl take a note that an anthropoligist knows better than you.
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Chrís Dăn Dec 14, 2020 02:31pm
@Baasha all individuals are unique.
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Fareed K Niazi Dec 14, 2020 02:55pm
@Shabash - Get up, read the book by the last British governor of NWFP (now KPK) Sir Olaf Caroe 'History of Pathans'. You might learn something.
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Laila Dec 14, 2020 03:00pm
@Hummingbird a reliable source for this claim would be appreciated.
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Naveed Dec 14, 2020 03:23pm
@Shabash Care to explain how?
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AAA Dec 14, 2020 03:51pm
@Baasha "Who are greater? Pathans or Punjabis or Sindhis or Baluchis?" Can't even argue with you on racism as if country PM is promoting racism then what can say about his followers.
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lena Dec 14, 2020 04:09pm
30,000 afghans refugees livein india, want indian citizenship. afghanistan in terrible shape-
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Sayyar Khan Dec 14, 2020 04:20pm
And on the other side Modi recommended more Hate
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Dr.Sadaf Dec 14, 2020 04:23pm
@Shabash , are you an expert on his lineage.
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Wolf Dec 14, 2020 04:25pm
Looks like PM IK has delivered on all promises and it is time to take a break and read some books on ancestral history!
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Dr.Sadaf Dec 14, 2020 04:25pm
@Laila , what balance, your recommendation is not his interest.
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Wolf Dec 14, 2020 04:29pm
@Nick, NY first they need to earn enough to eat three times a day then have capacity to sent kids to school and buy them books. As some one said IK never worked and have earned daily wages in his life so that what you can expect from leader of country that has no idea how ordinary are surviving on day to day basis.
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Shafin Verani Dec 14, 2020 04:53pm
This is the best thing our Prime Minister is doing to educate our youth - We as nation do not have a reading culture and I appreciate this effort of introducing some fascinating books to our people and specially to the youth.
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Akib Mahmood Dec 14, 2020 05:03pm
A PM who is intellectually engaged with the public, purely for spreading the joy of the beautiful gift that is reading... My PM
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Queen Dec 14, 2020 05:18pm
@Shabash and reason for claim is????
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Abdul Majeed Sheikh Dec 14, 2020 05:39pm
Proud to have a person after Jinnah and Bhutto who loves to read and recommends people to read I wonder any contemporary politician is parallel to him
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samirz Dec 14, 2020 06:00pm
Any book recommendations on efficient government?
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Patriot Dec 14, 2020 06:03pm
People are interested in comfortable living.
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Rafiq Dec 14, 2020 06:11pm
@Tariq because he has nothing else to do. He watches dramas also. Ample time on his hand, you see.
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Tariq Dec 14, 2020 06:22pm
@Shabash Imran Khan is as Pathan as you being a non Pakistani.
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HashBrown® Dec 14, 2020 06:54pm
@Baasha "Who are greater? Pathans or Punjabis or Sindhis or Baluchis?" Does it frustrate you that all the Pakistanis here simply ignored your deliberate provocation?
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HashBrown® Dec 14, 2020 06:59pm
@Random "Does the history of Pathans cover the period before 570 AD." The history of all Pakistanis dates back tens of thousands of years - relics from Mehrgarh and Taxila show that modern day Pakistan was one of the world's great cradles of civilisation. Does your history cover anything before the Aryan invasions?
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Danish Dec 14, 2020 07:18pm
@HashBrown® Good answer we all know Pakistan is Pakistan with all of us in it strong together Pakistan Zindabad!
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SATT Dec 14, 2020 07:24pm
So he got bored with Turkish books,
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Mehboob Dec 14, 2020 07:34pm
Sounds like pakistani Opra Winfrey.
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Haseeb Toor Dec 14, 2020 07:57pm
As usual a wonderful choice, and great to have a well read and articulate PM in Pakistan. BTW, for some of us, who still find it hard to find the time to read books, let's go for audio books. I have enjoyed several, including my current traveling companion "A Land Of Promise" By Barack Obama.. narrated by Barack Obama :-)
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Observer Dec 14, 2020 07:58pm
He is 100 percent right
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Observer Dec 14, 2020 07:59pm
Smartest leader in Asia
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Rach Dec 14, 2020 08:29pm
@Wolf He should read, how his ancestors lost east Pakistan...
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Nimra Dec 14, 2020 08:32pm
We are always with you,our great leader and P.M Imran Khan...
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Rashid Dec 14, 2020 09:14pm
@Baasha "Who are greater? Pathans or Punjabis or Sindhis or Baluchis?" Read a good a book on your Indian history and you will find, they are all great.
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N abidai Dec 14, 2020 09:25pm
High praise for PM IK who is a avid reader, it becomes a habit, a good one! His good suggestion are inspiring the public ,love his recommendations!
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Yes Dec 14, 2020 09:50pm
Let’s out the record straight, it’s pronounced as Pakhtun or Pasthun.
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Fahim Ahmed Dec 14, 2020 10:17pm
@Imtiaz Ali Khan - What is brave about them ? They have been killing each other for centuries. Let me tell you something you may not know - Every human at time can be brave just as any other person.
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Nick Dec 14, 2020 10:55pm
There were 428 registered temples in Pakistan before partition, plus1000 unregistered temples. Today there are only 20 registered temples in Pakistan and about a 100 unregistered temples. From 1500 temples to only 120 temples left i.e 92 % temples destroyed. In India at the time of partition there were approx 4000 mosques (unverified data), Now India is home to 2nd highest number of mosques in the world, the number of mosques exceeds 300,000. This is an whopping increase by 7500% , YES, 7500 %
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Yawar Dec 14, 2020 11:49pm
Definitely not for the masses that aren't literate enough in english, whom he is the prime minister of. Not finding enough good literature in the national language?
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Yaseen Dec 15, 2020 02:01am
@Baasha "Who are greater? Pathans or Punjabis or Sindhis or Baluchis?" This is a wrong question. All are Pakistani and equally strengthen their country.
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Salman Dec 15, 2020 03:14am
Good to see a PM who is not focused on Siri pai and katakut
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Ibrahim S Dec 15, 2020 05:13am
These Pathan who were Muslim , I guess most of them , made Hindustan their home and lived dude by side Hindus for hundreds of years . What caused the fissure between them . I guess British played a very clever role to keep us busy
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Ibrahim S Dec 15, 2020 06:14am
@Wolf yes, a smart move to distract public from the real issues.
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Chris Dec 15, 2020 06:35am
Its a dated book; he ought to read Lee Kuan Yew's books to learn how to run government and how to serve people!
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Safir A.Siddiqui Dec 15, 2020 07:34am
What difference it makes if he is not Pathan.He is a dynamic leader who inspires Pakistanis to follow the motto of Quid-e-Azam:Faith,Unity and Discipline.We are so lucky that we have a dynamic leader who wants to instill in us the habit of reading good books.The lists of books recommended by Imran Khan should be read by us.I will surely read all the books which he has recommended.
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Teddy Dec 15, 2020 07:44am
Trying hard to look intellectual.
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Dave Dec 15, 2020 11:49am
@Nick Not true, check with Modi's recent doings to Muslims all over India!
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Munsif Jan Dec 15, 2020 02:27pm
Imran Khan belongs to the Niazi tribe of Pashtuns and we Pashtuns are happy to have him as our fellow tribesmen. There are many Pashtun communities around the world who have integrated with the local majority communities and some members have lost the ability to speak Pushto language but it doesn't change their ethnic identity.
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Laila Dec 15, 2020 03:10pm
@Ibrahim S preach! Spot on.
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Laila Dec 15, 2020 03:13pm
@Dr.Sadaf I suppose you re right. Female issues like equality, access to education, protection are really not his areas of interest.
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Iftikhar Khan Dec 15, 2020 03:19pm
@Shabash Naming Chup Buzdar as CM Punjab shows that he is a Lahore-born non-Punjabi, who perhaps carries resentment listening to cheap jokes about Pathan settlers called Kakazais, during growing up in Lahore.
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Taimoor Khan Dec 15, 2020 03:20pm
@Hummingbird .... Bani Isreal, not Jewish. Completely different all together. People tend to confuse Bani Israel with Jews. Then ten lost tribes were not Jews to begin with. Jews only came from the other two tribes.
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Laila Dec 15, 2020 03:23pm
Dear PMIK, I have another recommendation for you. Read Orhan Pamuks books 'Snow' and 'My Name Is Red'. He is a an internationally critically acclaimed author and was awarded the Nobel literary prize. Oh wait, he is also Turkish. Surely that should be enough reason.
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Laila Dec 15, 2020 03:25pm
@A Khan but not a PM who cares about the disproportionate higher rate of illiteracy plaguing girls of Pakistan (and any other female issues for that matter). Sadly many of those can't afford the luxury of reading let alone be part of a book club.
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Laila Dec 15, 2020 03:29pm
PMIK should join Malalas book club on 'Literati' and discuss the monthly book. Don't worry, it is digital. No risk of crossing limits. But high risk of learning.
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Zak Dec 16, 2020 01:50pm
All of India is reading it now, those that can read.
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Zak Dec 16, 2020 01:53pm
@Shabash 'Imran khan is not pathan.' You obviously are a foreigner. IK is a pathan whose tribe, the Niazi's lienieage is from Afghanistan. Educate before you comment otherwise this forum is too elevated for you.
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Zak Dec 16, 2020 01:54pm
Pathan's also helped liberate Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 1948 along with Pakistan army.
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Zak Dec 16, 2020 01:55pm
Can Modi read, otherwise some can read it to him slowly.
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B Khan Dec 16, 2020 05:12pm
@A.Khan, Yes, finally we have found a PM who only has time to read books. "Room burned, while Nero fiddled"
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