Peshpex 1990

Sardar Agha Faqir Hussain Zahid (late)

By: Ghulam Asghar

My interest in Agha Sahib’s personality grew when I saw with my own eyes the reverence and affection people had for him. He was a noble person, and his goodness was infectious. The impressions of his clean and refined personality remain with me to this day, leaving an unforgettable impact. Even when his ancestors migrated from their native land, they brought with them high values. He belonged to a distinguished family in this city.

Agha Sahib was born in May 1915 in Kohat. His father, Sardar Muhammad Ali Khan, was counted among the gentry and respected figures of the city. Agha Sahib started his early education at the famous Islamia High School in the city. In 1928, he passed his matriculation exam with distinction. During his student days, Agha Sahib went to England with his elder brother, Sardar Abdul Ali Khan. From there, Agha Sahib’s collection became an important treasure. People interested in philately (stamp collecting) often visited him. When Agha Sahib’s passion for stamps began to flourish, he passed his matriculation and joined the office of the Chief Political Agent as an official employee. He progressed through the ranks to higher positions.

Agha Sahib focused his attention on his passion, and this passion earned him a prominent place in the field of research. He achieved research and mastery not only in Pakistan, but also on the stamps and OVERPRINT (PRINT) issues of Afghanistan and Pakistan that no one else ever matched. He regularly sent his articles to national and international magazines. Agha Sahib turned his passion for collection into a research-oriented endeavor, making it his life's mission.

Agha Sahib participated in numerous national exhibition shows and won countless awards. In 1957, he participated in an international exhibition in India and won a Gold Medal. In 1983, he participated in PAKPHILEX in Lahore and won a Gold Medal. Agha Sahib’s collection of Pakistan and Afghanistan stamps is truly worth seeing. Perhaps no one else possessed such a collection as Agha Sahib. He was a very polite, charming, and gracious personality. Everyone who met him once would eagerly look forward to meeting him again. Friends were delighted to see his collection. His happiness knew no bounds when he received news of philatelic interest from around the world.

He was a steadfast friend, always answering every friend's letter, considering it a duty. Agha Sahib gathered stamps on every topic and encouraged others as well. After retiring as an Extra Assistant Commissioner, he devoted himself completely to his collection.

On March 13, 1987, a bright star of Pakistan’s history set forever. But he left behind a light by which future stamp collectors can easily find their path.