Khan Abdul Ghani Khan was a Pashtun Pashto language philosopher, poet, artist, writer and politician. He was a son of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a prominent British Raj-era independence activist. Throughout his life as a poet in both British India and Pakistan, Khan was known by the titles Lewanay Pālsapay and Da īlam Samander.
Pashto literature refers to literature and poetry in Pashto language. The history of Pashto literature spreads over five thousands years having its roots in the oral tradition of Tappa. However, the first recorded period begins in 7th century with Amir Kror Suri. Later, Pir Roshan (1526–1574), who founded his own Sufi school of thoughts and began to preach his beliefs. He gave Pashto prose and poetry a new and powerful tone with a rich literary legacy. Khair-ul-Bayan, oft-quoted and bitterly criticized thesis, is most probably the first book on Sufism in Pashto literature. Among his disciples are some of the most distinguished poets, writers, scholars and sufis, like Arzani, Mukhlis, Mirza Khan Ansari, Daulat and Wasil, whose poetic works are well preserved. Akhund Darweza (1533–1615), a popular religious leader and scholar gave a powerful counterblast to Bayazid’s movement in the shape of Makhzanul Islam. He and his disciples have enriched the Pashto language and literature by writing several books of prose.
Kabir Stori was a Pashtun nationalist, poet, and writer from Kunar Province of Afghanistan. He was chairman of the Pashtoons Social Democratic Party, a political party that he founded, until his death.
Rahmat Shah Sail is a Pashtoon poet in the Pashto language, belongs to the Utmankhel tribe.
Hanif Baktash PhD is considered as one of the Pashto language's leading contemporary poets and writers.
Mawlana Qiamuddin Khadim(1901 - 1979, Afghanistan, Kabul) was a renowned Afghan scholar, poet, writer, journalist, public speaker and one of the founding member of the first political party of Afghanistan, Weekh Zalmian. His scholastic achievements, political contribution and dedication to the Afghan national cause earned him the title Mawlana. He was also a senator in the era of King Mohammad Zahir Shah. He was the author and publisher of hundreds of Afghan books and articles.
Abdul Bari Jahani is an Afghan poet, novelist, historian and journalist. He wrote the lyrics for the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, also known as Usman Lala, was a Pakistani politician affiliated with the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) and a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement activist. He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan from 2015 to 2021.
Sayyid Rahatullah Rahat Zakheli was a Pashto poet, writer and novelist in Azakhel Bala, Nowshera, in what is today Pakistan. Rahat, often referred to as the pioneering figure in the development of Pashto prose and journalism, grew up in the region of NWFP, British India, which was then under British colonial rule.
Abaseen Yousafzai is a Pakistani Pashto and Urdu language poet. He is the chairman of the Pashto Department in Islamia College Peshawar. Yousafzai has had his poetry published across the Durand Line. He joined the Islamia College Peshawar as a lecturer of Pashto in 1993.
Najiba Faiz born 1 August 1988, is an Afghan-born Pakistani television host, television and film actress, known for playing variety of notable characters in films and in television mostly in Pakistan and Afghanistan. She began her career as a child artist, and later started in television serials such as Sang-e-Mar Mar and its second trilogy Sang-e-Mah. Faiz is currently hosting a morning show on Hum Pashto 1.
Sahib Shah Sabir was a renowned poet of the Pashto language in the modern era. He held a PhD degree in literature along with three master's degrees in Pashto literature, Urdu literature, and political science, all from the University of Peshawar.
Ali Baba Khan is a Pakistani Pashtun Sufi singer in the Pashto music industry.
Syed Pir Gohar Ali Shah, also known as Shaer-i-Aman, was a Pakistani poet, songwriter, critic and freedom activist who primarily wrote poems in Pashto language. He is also credited with contributing to the independence movement of Pakistan. He sometimes wrote articles and essays under pen names such as Shilmani and Silani.
Salma Shaheen is a Pakistani poet, fiction writer, researcher, and the first Pashto-woman novelist, who also served as the first-woman director of Pashto Academy of University of Peshawar. She primarily wrote poems in Urdu and Pashto languages since started her literary work. Shaheen is recognized one of the prominent women writers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who is believed to have made a significant contribution to Pashto language, culture and to its literature.
Dawar Khan Daud was an English professor, Pashtu folklorist, writer, poet, researcher, lecturer, member of Pashto Adabi Board (PAB) and president of Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga (RAJ), a literary organisation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In 2004, the president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf awarded him Pride of Performance award in the field of art and literature.
Abdul Rahim Majzoob was a Pakistani Pashto poet, writer, researcher and jurist from Lakki Marwat. He was alumnus of Islamia College Peshawar. His popular work included Zairr Guloona, Da Meenay Tanda, and his complete works titled Da Noor Mazharoona (2017).
Mohammad Taskeen Manerwal was a Pakistani intellectual, writer, and author of Pashto literature and poetry. He was also a teacher and retired from the Department of Education in 1999 as a headmaster. He belonged to Maniri Swabi.
Sher Ali Bacha, commonly known as Bachajee (باچاجي), was a Pakistani communist politician, Pashto language poet and human rights activist. He was one of the founding members of the Mazdoor Kisan Party (MKP) and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP).
Shams Buneri was a Pakistani Pashtun nationalist, progressive, revolutionary poet, writer, and scholar who served as Secretary of Culture for Awami National Party (ANP).
