The federal government in Pakistan intends to name a road in Islamabad after anti-Taliban Afghan commander Ahmed Shah Massou, twenty-one years after his assassination, reported Dawn.
Quoting unnamed sources in the federal government, Dawn reported that recently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had taken up the plan with the Ministry of Interior, which is the line ministry of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The sources told Dawn in February 2021 Ahmed Wali Massoud, a brother of the late Afghan leader, had requested Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan to name a street in Islamabad after Ahmed Shah Massoud. The prime minister had agreed to consider the request.
As per the report, through an official letter, the foreign secretary asked the interior ministry to get CDA’s input before moving a summary to the prime minister for final approval.
“A road can only be named after head of states of foreign countries. We are looking into the case of Ahmed Shah and will inform the government about our existing rules. We will follow whatever direction comes from the government,” CDA member planning Naveed Ilahi told Dawn.
Quoting a federal government source, Dawn reported: “Ahmed Shah Massoud was a brave Muslim commander and had great links with Pakistan. We want to name a road in the capital city after him to pay homage to his resistance.”
Asked about the rules of CDA, the source told Dawn: “Rules can be amended that is not a big deal for the government,” adding Pakistan had respect for all ethnic communities of Afghanistan, therefore, the government wanted to name a road after the slain Afghan commander and leader.
