Hayat Khan Sherpao shaheed was a former Governor of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan and one of the co-founders of the Pakistan Peoples Party. His political life was full of turmoil but he proved to be a popular leader. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party made him the party head in the North-West Frontier Province when he formed the PPP in 1967. Hayat Sherpao was later assassinated in 1975 in a bomb explosion. Sherpao was a close ally of the former President and Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and a Co-founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Sherpao became Governor of the North-West Frontier Province shortly after Bhutto had become president of Pakistan. He was the governor from the 25 December 1971 to 30 April 1972. He also remained a Federal Minister in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s cabinet and a Senior Minister in the NWFP cabinet.
Hayat Khan Sherpao’s popularity and political success, led to him being dubbed the “Lion of the Frontier” or “Sher-i-Sarhad” by the Pakistan Peoples Party, and more specifically by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
He was assassinated on February 08, 1975, in a bomb explosion on the campus of the University of Peshawar while he was addressing in the youth convention. Every year a large number of Lion of Frontier’s followers gather to commemorate death anniversary. Hayat Sherpao’s mantel is now carried by his younger brother Aftab Sherpao, who learned politics and diplomacy from his elder brother. Carrying forward the mission, he now formed Qaumi Watan Party, which is a leading provincial force. Qaumi Watan Party has raised a voice for the rights of the Pakhtun and the province, avoiding negative politics.