Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The concluding ceremony of the ‘Human Rights through Cinematography’ film festival was Monday held at the Lok Virsa.

The festival was co-organised by European Union, the United Nations and the Embassy of Switzerland. Cosmopolitanism, a documentary was also showcased at the concluding ceremony, which marked the conclusion of the film festival. Started from November 23, the film festival travelled to different cities, including Gujrat, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi. The screenings were held at embassies, UN Information Centre, Goethe-Institute, universities and Pakistan National Council of Arts, as in previous editions, with the support of the European Union. A highlight of the film festival was the participation of young students of universities at all venues especially in many universities across the country. The human rights through cinematography film festival presented 25 documentaries on human right violations across the world. The screenings on Human Rights Day were followed by a panel discussion on ‘Defending Human Rights in troubled times: Dignity and Adversity’. European Union Special Envoy Jan Figel, Rabiya Javeri Agha, federal secretary Ministry of Human Rights, Isabelle Gattiker, director of the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights, Juan Lozano, director Crime Hunters, Sara Belal Founder of Justice Project Pakistan and Christine Chung Human Rights Officer at the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights participated in the panel discussion. Meanwhile, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will organize a ‘Mehfil-e-Milad’ (PBUH) for women on December 13 in connection with Holy Month of Rabiul Awwal.

Women from different walks of life will participate in the event. Prominent Na’at khawans and religious scholars will recite Na’ats and verses from Holy Qur’an to pay respect to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and highlight his teachings of peace, love and brotherhood. The participants will also pray for peace and prosperity of the country. Separately, the Asian Study Group – Comparative Cultures Club would organise a spiritual musical evening with an all-women spiritual music group from Gilgit-Baltistan led by the vocalist Mehrangez Mir at the Lok Virsa Media Centre on December 15. The group will perform a variety of musical genres, including Ginan, with lyrics mostly written by the acclaimed Hunzai poet, Allama Nasir-al-Din. They use traditional Burushaski musical instruments like Duf and Rubab. The group’s music transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries.

It is a unique practice of oral renditions that portray their tradition of following the ‘path of truth’ (Satpanthi) through which the inner meaning of faith (batin) can be understood. However, some Ginans are also written from the perspective of a woman who has been waiting with desire to be re-united with her beloved.

The session will begin with a conversation with Mehrangez Mir, followed by a musical performance by the entire The musical evening would be attended by a large number of people from different walks of life.

Published in Daily Times, December 12^th 2017.