Karzai delivers ex-king’s pen to museum

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai on Monday submitted to the national museum a pen which belonged to late King Amanullah Khan during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

The pen has been recently gifted to the people of Afghanistan by Aklil Wali, the grand-son of the late king.

President Karzai, while delivering the pen to the national museum director, Omra Khan Masoodi, asked him to keep it as an important historic artifact.

Karzai remarked: “This pen which late Amanullah Khan used to ink the country’s independence document is today returned to the country and kept in the national museum.”

He said the pen would inspire Afghans, especially the youth, to recognise the worth of independence and to make efforts for its preservation.

He said Afghan with their efforts could achieve a peaceful life and ensure their bright future through democratic governments. He thanked Aklil Wali for gifting the pen to the countrymen.

Hendia, the daughter of late Amanullah Khan, said their family was very happy that the pen had been delivered to the nation.

After her father’s demise, she said, the pen remained with her mother, then brother and finally inherited by her nephew, Aklil Wali.

Meanwhile, Karzai strongly condemned kidnapping and killing four schoolchildren by the insurgents, saying the incident was heartbreaking and aimed depriving Afghans of having a bright future.  

On Sunday, ten students were abducted in the Charsada district of western Ghor province. Four of them were later killed by their kidnappers.

Denouncing the killings in captivity as a coward act, Karzai said the enemies of peace had gone wild to the extent that they were now killing innocent school going children.

The president extended his deep condolences to families of the victims and prayed Almighty Allah to award the departed souls a chosen place in the heaven.

mm/ma

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