Re-evaluating Abdul Ghaffar Khan: The Frontier Gandhi and His Philosophy of Non-Violence

Abdul Ghaffar Khan, widely known as the Frontier Gandhi, remains one of the most compelling yet often under-examined figures in South Asian political history. Revered for his moral authority and commitment to non-violence, his ideas continue to invite critical reflection in a world marked by conflict and political polarization.

This session revisits Ghaffar Khan’s philosophy of non-violence, situating it within its historical, cultural and political contexts. Moving beyond hagiography, the discussion will re-evaluate his leadership, ethical vision, and political strategy, and examine how his ideas challenged both colonial power and entrenched social norms of his time.

About the Speakers:

• Dr. Himayatullah Yaqubi had been a Research Fellow at National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR), QAU, from 2006 to 2017. Presently, he is Associate Professor at the Department of History, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
• Dr. Dilawar Hussain holds a PhD in Parliamentary Studies and is the author of “The Senate of Pakistan and Regional Representation: History, Role and Parliamentary Performance” (Bloomsbury Academic, USA). He is an Associate Member of the Centre for Legislative Studies at the University of Hull, UK, and works as a governance, parliamentary and constitutional development professional. At Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, he teaches Parliamentary and Constitutional History with a special focus on comparative bicameralism, legislatures, governance, policymaking and comparative political systems. His writings on representation, federalism and parliamentary reform regularly appear in The News International, The Friday Times and Hum Sub Urdu. He has served as a Research Fellow at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and at the House of Lords, UK Parliament.

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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