Assassination of Rehan Zeb Khan: A Loss for Bajaur’s Political Sphere

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Inspiring journey of Rehan Zeb Khan, a symbol of hope for Bajaur, from student activism to political leadership and his tragic assassination.

Who was Rehan Zeb Khan? 

Rehan Zeb Khan, born on July 1, 1994, in the small village of Hayaserai Naroobu, Tehsil Salarzai Bajaur Agency, was a hardworking individual who rose from the country’s most backward areas FATA to become a symbol of hope and change for the region. Rehan Zeb Khan came from a middle-class family, and his journey from student activism to mainstream politics was marked by dedication and a strong desire for political activism.

Rehan Zeb’s education began in his own village, at the Govt Primary School Chargo. After finishing his primary education, he attended Govt High School Raghagan. Along with traditional education, Rehan Zeb immersed himself in religious studies, studying the Quran, Hadith, and Islamic literature at Madrasa Maaref ul Quran Naroobo before becoming a Hafiz Quran in 2008.

Rehan Zeb attended Govt Degree College Bajaur Khar to study FSc pre-engineering, inspired by a desire to learn and an interest in engineering. With a dream to become a great engineer, he got admission in Arid Agricultural University Rawalpindi, where he studied Agricultural Engineering with a focus on Land and Water Conservation Engineering, through a Higher Education Commission (HEC) scholarship.

Advocate for positive change in the FATA

Assassination of Rehan Zeb Khan: A Loss for Bajaur’s Political SphereBeyond academia, Rehan Zeb started to campaign for the rights of the people of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). He founded the FATA Students Forum Pakistan and serves as its chairman, with the goal of addressing the educational issues that FATA students face. His dedication to the cause extended to protests and participate in seminars, where he actively voiced about tribal region various issues and always expressed concerns the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) that governs tribal areas.

Rehan Zeb’s numerous contributions went beyond education and activism. As the CEO/Chairman of the non-profit organization RAWAP, he dedicated himself to water sector development in rural areas, providing awareness, technical assistance, and training.

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Rehan Zeb Khan was appointed as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Youth Executive Partner in 2016 as a result of his human rights advocacy work. He was additionally selected as a member of the International Water Resource Association (IWRA) for his significant contributions to the rural water sector.

Political party affiliation

Rehan Zeb Khan was also well-known for his political affiliation with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). Among the many dedicated political workers within the party, Rehan Zeb Khan stands out as a key figure, playing an important role in the PTI’s success from Bajaur. He actively participates in party activities, ranging from participating in PTI youth decision-making processes to organising protests and relying on the Bajaur Agency against the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. As a result of his involvement in these protests and speeches, multiple FIRs were registered against him, and he was arrested several times.

But despite Rehan Zeb’s unwavering commitment and sacrifices and his active role within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf in Bajaur, Rehan Zeb was not given a party ticket for the upcoming elections. He chose to run as an independent candidate for the National Assembly seat, NA-8, and PK-22 in the Bajaur constituency.

Tragically, Rehan Zeb Khan’s promising journey came to an abrupt end on January 31, 2024, when he was assassinated while campaigning in the Siddiqabad area of Bajaur for the upcoming election on February 8, 2024

 

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