Due to the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19, the death anniversary of Pakistan Saraiki Party (PSP) founder and Rahbar-e-Saraiki, Barrister Taj Mohammad Khan Langah and party’s foundation day annually celebrated each year on April 7 in Multan was postponed this year. Nevertheless, hundreds of dedicated party activists and his family members locally organized meetings throughout Saraiki vusaib, in Karachi and Lahore.
Taj Langah was born on August 8, 1939, in Lodhran’s Kahror Pakka area to Dost Muhammad Khan Langah, a prominent landowner of the area. He passed FSc examination from SE College Bahawalpur in 1954 and after completing BSc examination from Lahore, he joined University Law College Lahore. Later he travelled to qualify Bar-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn, London. He joined the British Labour Party and Minister for Local Education Authority. In 1963, he on the invitation of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto returned to Pakistan from London and later also joined the Pakistan People’s Party. Shortly afterwards, due to strong political disagreement, leaving PPP, he founded the Awami Democratic (Jamhori) Party whose president was Khurshid Hassan Mir. Later, he created ‘Saraiki Province Front’ (Saraiki Sooba Mahaz) to represent the rights of Saraiki people. On April 7, 1989, the front was declared as ‘Pakistan Saraiki Party’ as a first political party fighting for the rights of Saraiki people.
Taj Langah’s relentless national and international struggle to achieve the political rights of the Saraiki nation and Saraikistan province. He also supported equal rights of oppressed nationalities in the country evident through his involvement in Pakistan Oppressed Nation Movement joined by Sindhi, Pakhtoon, Baloch nationalists in the 90s. He died on April 7, 2013, and was buried in his native cemetery at ‘Jhoke Langah’ (Moza Naseer di Vehan) near Kahror Pakka. The PSP is currently chaired by his daughter, Dr. Nukhbah Taj Langah joined by hundreds of dedicated cadres who are committed to keep his vision alive. A book dedicated to his life and struggle will be published by the end of this year.
