The Memoirs

Of Peshawar, Pakistan - Winter of 2011 APCNA members visit to Peshawar in Winter of 2011.

APCNA

Masjid Muhabbat Khan

Chowk Yaadgar .

The Inner City Tour . Khwani Bazaar Qissa

Publication

Islamia College Peshawar more!

The Kabul River

Trip to Amankot

!!

APCNA Annual Winter Meeting

Peshawar, Pakistan - December 2011

Memoirs of Peshawar
My soul is restless in search of the beautiful; As the breeze yearns for the scent of flowers. Your beauty is like the sun drying up the dew; Dawn breaks, and turns my tears to laughter. When I contemplate your beauty My heart marvels at your sight. The image of your face Makes my soul sing like a bird. Within this frail body my soul Lies visible, like pure wine in the glass. Once my search discovered your radiant beauty My spirit moved spinning day and night like the sun. In search of your cheeks I became a nomad; My soul wanders as far as India and Khorasan.
from The Poetry of Rahman Baba: Poet of the Pashtuns, translated by Robert Sampson and Momin Khan

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

e have visited many cities and toured many towns in the past but we all feel that nowhere have we been greeted with greater hospitality and warmth than Peshawar. APCNA last visited Peshawar in 2007 and again this last year. True to the tradition, we were delighted each and every day of our stay in this city of the most hospitable people in December of 2011. Our hosts once again proved wonderful. We are especially thankful to Dr. Hafizullah and Dr. Adnan Gul and their team. Dr. Adnan Gul arranged a wonderful guided tour of the walled city of Peshawar. Our guide, Raheel was vey kind to take us through the busy streets of Peshawar, passing through Sarrafa Bazar, Qissa Khwani Bazar, Chowk Yadagar, Ghanta Ghar, Koocha Sethian, Masjid Mahabat Khan and more. Our APCNA colleagues, Arshad Rehan and Naeem Khan also deserve our thanks for the wonderful time we had in Peshawar. The trips to Amankot, Kabul River at Nowshera and Islamia College are some of the many occasions that will remain etched in our memory forever. The most sumptuous traditional dinners at Naeem and Arshads places were simply wonderful. Words simply cannot do justice so here are some of the memorable moments in pictures. We present to you, the memoirs of Peshawar lets raise a cup of Qehva to celebrate and enjoy the memories

All the pictures are original taken by APCNA members

Inner City Tour

December 24, 2011

Peshawar
We thank Drs. Hafizullah, Adnan Gul and their team for arranging an excellent guided tour to the walled city of Peshawar where our guide, Mr. Raheel took us through the busy streets, passing through Sarrafa Bazar, Qissa Khwani, Chowk Yaadgar, Ghanta Ghar, Koocha Sethian, Masjid Mahabat Khan and much more

The inner city tour was all on foot. There was no hassle or problems. We touched upon the many landmarks of the historic city. During our last visit in 2007, we had visited the Bala Hisaar fort so this time it was great to see the inner city of Peshawar

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

Wamique and Salman with our guide Raheel

APCNA Memoirs - January 2012

The famous dry fruit shops of Peshawar

Pekhawar kho Pekhawar dae Kana

(Peshawar is Peshawar, the only one)

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

Koocha Sethian

Wamique and Salman

Source: Wikipedia but all the pictures are original taken by APCNA members

Inner City Tour

Masjid Muhabbat Khan

The Masjid built in 17th century in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan. It is named after the Mughal governor of Peshawar Nawab Mohabbat Khan who served under Emperors Shah Jehan and Aurangzeb and who was the grandson of Nawab Dadan Khan (who had been governor of Lahore). The Mosque was built in 1670s. Its open courtyard has an ablution pool in the middle and a single row of rooms around the sides. The prayer hall occupies the west side flanked by two tall minarets.
Dr. Naeem Khan accompanied us on this part of the tour. This was indeed a true historical journey. While walking through the streets of the inner city you suddenly encounter this historic building. Its two minarets are visible from far but the actual masjid somewhat hidden behind the street shops. While visiting this historic mosque, we were delighted to see the Imam who true to the traditions of Peshawar, invited us to his study for a cup of tea. The room was full of bookshelves with rows upon rows of religious and historical texts and encyclopedias.
APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

We were invited to Imams library for a cup of tea

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

The masjid was built in the 17th century. The inner architecture and the calligraphy on the walls is amazing and very well maintained.
APCNA Memoirs - January 2012

Masjid Muhabbat Khan

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

With the Imam of Masjid Mahabat Khan in his library

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

APCNA Memoirs - January 2012

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

The evening stroll through the city was a real delight. Most welcoming people with unsurpassable hospitality. Everyone insisting on inviting you to a cup of tea It was wonderful to interact with these lovely people

Sitting with elders having evening tea in the busy bazaar

Shuhadah-e-Azadi A memorial to the martyrs of freedom who laid their life in the struggle against the occupying British Empire at this very site in 1930
APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

Priceless !
A priceless moment. Pure and innocent souls. Even in our brief interactions with the people, you could get a sense that hatred and destruction is foreign to these people. The hearts weep at the calamity brought on by foreign fundamentalist philosophy

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Inner City Tour

Peshawar

Visit to Kabul River

December 24, 2011

Kabul River

Source: Wikipedia

Kabul River, the classical Cophes, is a 700 km long river that starts in the Sanglakh Range of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan and ends in the Indus River near Attock, Pakistan. It is the main river in eastern Afghanistan and is separated from the watershed of the Helmand by the Unai Pass. It passes through the cities of Kabul, Chaharbagh and Jalalabad in Afghanistan before flowing into Pakistan some 25 km north of the PakAfghan Border crossing at Torkham. The major tributaries of the Kabul River are the Logar, Panjshir, Kunar, Alingar, Bara and Swat rivers.
The Kabul River is little more than a trickle for most of the year, but swells in summer due to melting snows in the Hindu Kush Range. Its largest tributary is the Kunar River, which starts out as the Mastuj River, flowing from the Chiantar glacier in Chitral, Pakistan and after flowing south into Afghanistan it is met by the Bashgal river flowing from Nurestan. The Kunar meets the Kabul near Jalalabad. In spite of the Kunar carrying more water than the Kabul, the river continues as the Kabul River after this confluence, mainly for the political and historical significance of the name.
APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Kabul River

Peshawar

On the bridge met the welcoming faces

Sunset time in Nowshera

APCNA Memoirs - January 2012

Visit to Kabul River

December 24, 2011

The Guard House

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Kabul River

Peshawar

The Bridge on the River Kabul

Wamique enjoying the stroll over the bridge

Arshad Rehan busy taking pictures and

Visit to Amankot
December 24, 2011

Amankot

by Dr. Arshad Rehan

While we wanted but could not visit the Khyber pass or the international border at Torkham, the visit to Amankot village proved a superb alternative. Arshad Rehan arranged with his friends Jamal, Rashid, Jameel, Aasim and Waqar to invite us to a most wonderful lunch at the traditional Hujra of the late Umar Khan of Amankot. The weather was perfect with a crisp sunny winter day. This village is situated about 30 kilometers from Peshawar on the right bank of the river Kabul.
The hosts greeted us most warmly. The huge stomach and to finish it all, traditional Qehva. Sipping hujra had the most relaxing traditional chaarpais the delicious Qehva, sitting on the traditional chaarpais and reclining chairs. The background provided in the crisp winter afternoon sun, seemed like a moment from out of this world (Wajid made sure that he call by the traditional barbecue being prepared with Javed who had left in the morning for Islamabad and tell a wonderful aroma was just surreal. him what he was missing.) We were treated to some of the most wonderful Peshawari style mutton and chicken tikka. It was accompanied by Karahi Gosht and fresh cut salad. And of course, what we noted was that no Peshawari/Pukhtun menu is complete without delicious yogurt (plain or Raita) and steaming real tandoori naan. The lunch was followed by another Pathan delicacy, Masalaay daar Gurr made with nuts and black pepper. There was also Gajjrela for those still having room in their

After the lunch, it was time to visit the lush sugarcane fields and a Gaanrai, the traditional place where Gurr is made from raw sugar. The process has remained the same over ages except that the sugarcane is now crushed with diesel-powered kolhu

AmanKot

Peshawar

With our hosts in Amankot No time to look at the camera

Wajid and Wamique enjoying the food

Naeem Khan

Wamique and Naeem - 2nd plates and counting ...

Arshad Rehan and his friends who were our hosts

Visit to Aman Kot

December 24, 2011

AmanKot

Peshawar

Wajid, Nadeem, Naeem Naeem and Wajid after a big meal

Naeem Khan

Nadeem Afridi

The Hujra and the Front Lawn

Visit to Aman Kot

December 24, 2011

After a very delicious food it was time to relax ...

Our Host

AmanKot

Peshawar

Nadeem Afridi and Arshad Rehan

Wajid and Naeem thinking about the next move

The perfect afternoon

No beepers, no pagers ...

Rizwan washing hands from the well water

Visit to Aman Kot

December 24, 2011

There was also Gajjrela for those still having room in their stomach and to finish it all, traditional Qehva. Sipping the delicious Qehva, sitting on the traditional chaarpais in the crisp winter afternoon sun, seemed like a moment from out of this world.

AmanKot

Peshawar

The perfect afternoon

Way Back from AmanKot

December 24, 2011

Sugar Cane, the countryside, the kids ...

Nadeem and Wamique with

The Hosts

AmanKot

Peshawar

Sugarcane Farm, Gurr, Workers ..

The Kid working on the fire in furnace

The raw but sweet moment

Enjoying every moment till the last drop...

Evening setting in ...

Way Back from AmanKot

December 24, 2011

Sugar Cane, the countryside, the kids ...

All in a days work ...

Just a small mis-step

AmanKot

Peshawar

Nadeem down to the basics ..

Enjoying every moment till the last drop... Nadeems exciting adventure into the mud

Wajid and Gunna

This is my Pakistan ...

Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua Ban Ke Tamanna Meri Zindagi Shamma Ki Surat Ho, Khudaya Meri ...

AmanKot

Peshawar
The Children at the sugar cane farm

Visit to Islamia College

December 26, 2011

Islamia College

Thanks to Arshad Rehan for such wonderful tour

Islamia College is a renowned educational institution located in the city of Peshawar in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It was founded in October 1913 by regional leader Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum and then Chief Commissioner of the province Sir George Roos-Keppel in an effort to provide quality education to the regions youth. Today, the college educates its students in arts, humanities and modern sciences. In 1950 University of Peshawar was founded as an offshoot of Islamia College Peshawar, with the later being associated to the university as a constituent college.
In 1901 after its separation from the Punjab, there was only one college (Edwards College) in whole province. This scarcity of quality educational institutions forced local youth to travel to faraway regions of the country (British India) in pursuit of higher education. This same lack of educational opportunities in the region motivated Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum and Sir George RoosKeppel to establish an institution that would not only cater the academic needs of the region but also produce leaders from the region.

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Islamia College

Peshawar

Century old College Hostels

Way to Student Hall

Way to Main Building

Chuakidar outside the main building

Arshad Rehans Umar our little host

Visit to Islamia College

December 26, 2011

Thanks to Arshad Rehan for such wonderful tour

APCNA Memoirs - December 2011

Islamia College

Peshawar

In front of old College Hostels

The new block

Wamique, Umar and Rizwan

Cricket Match in Progress at the Islamia College

December 26, 2011

Arshad APCNA Memoirs - December 2011and Wamique

with the lower staff at Khyber

Khyber Medical College

Peshawar

Wamique and Rizwan with Umar at Khyber

ociation of P Ass ak is

De nita

scent Cardiol

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Association of Pakistani-Descent Cardiologists of North America

APCNA
Thanks to the Contributors

eNewsletter Jan 2012

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We thank all those who contributed in bringing out this publication of APCNA. The APCNA members trip to Peshawar was indeed a memorable visit and this publication has attempted to capture the moments. In preparing for this publication we have gathered some historical information using Wikipedia, however, all the pictures used in the publication are all originals and taken by APCNA members. For articles credits, thanks to Dr. Mohammed Hafizullah, Dr. Syed Wamique Yusuf, Dr. Arshad Rehan and for photo credits we thank Dr. Arshad Rehan, Dr. Naeem Khan, Dr. Wajid Baig and Dr. Rizwan Karatela.

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