Fanoos Gujjar

Fanoos Gujjar (Urdu: فانوس گجر) (1958 - December 1, 2018) was a left-wing Pakistani politician from Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was the founding chairperson and president of Awami Workers Party. He spent his life in grass root struggle for the rights of minorities, workers, peasants, women and students.

Early life and education Fanoos was born in 1958 in union council Chagharzai, Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the house of Haji Zafar Khan, in a family of Muslim Gujjars. He received his initial education in the district Buner and graduation from the Buner Government College and later in Lahore.

In Peshawar, Gujjar contributed to the left-wing newspaper "Daily Shehbaz" and as editor of the newspaper "Jiddat" in Peshawar. He was grass root organizer of politics of resistance and even with small number of resources, he stayed committed to the left-wing politics.

Political beginning Fanoos Gujjar started his political career in his student life in early 1970s by joining, a left-wing students’ body, National Students Federation. He also remained part of the Democratic Students Federation and Pashtun Students Federation.

Awami Party Pakistan Fanoos Gujjar started his new political journey across the country in 1990s and brought people from lower classes together to form Awami Party Pakistan.

Gujjar Welfare Society He belonged to the Gujjar community. He raised the network of solidarity to fight against the injustice faced by his community specifically students and youth. Gujjar laid foundation of Gujjar welfare society in 2000 with the help of students from Gujjar community in universities of Peshawar to help and encourage students from this community. Gujjar contested general elections 2018 from his native constituency, Buner, KP.

Pashtun Protection Movement Despite facing discrimination in Pashtun society, Fanoos Gujjar raised his voice against the oppression Pashtuns faced and stood in solidarity with Pashtun Protection Movement. He was among the founder members of PTM (Pashtun Tahhafuz Movement).

Death Fanoos Gujjar had been suffering from multiple diseases and left with just one kidney for the past decade. He died on December 1, 2018, due to cardiac arrest. His funeral held in his native village Riyal, Union Council Batala, district Buner which was attended by thousands of people from all fields of life. After Gujjar's death, Yousuf Mustikhan was announced as president of Awami Workers Party.