LAHORE: Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) 2018 concluded on Sunday after paying rich tribute to rights activist Asma Jahangir as both opening and closing sessions of the last day celebrated her life and the values she stood up for. The concluding session of LLF 2018 featured a performance from the Laal band, which enthralled the audience with the progressive poetry of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Habib Jalib and folk Punjabi music. The second day of the festival had 23 sessions which were attended by a large number of people from all walks of life. However, unlike the previous editions of the festival, this year’s LFF failed to draw a significant crowd. This may have something to do with the calls to boycott the festival on social media in the wake of former organiser Fasih Ahmed’s controversial tweets that were seen by many as defence of child abuse. Ahmed was under fire from social media users as well as activists who vowed to boycott the festival to protest his statements. While addressing the concluding session, Taimur Rahman of Laal band observed that Asma always stood for those who could not speak for themselves. He said that she gave courage to the weak and became the voice of the voiceless. The singer performed 11 songs which were based on the revolutionary poems. Laal started with Faiz’s dua for the prosperity of the society and then told the folktale of Sohni Mahiwal through their song. Their performance included kalam of Baba Farid, Musali, Mali da kam pani lana, Punjab folk songs. Jalib’s Khatra received huge round of applause from the audience and Faiz’s Rang was also appreciated by the attendees. Laal also sang Habib Jalib’s poetry which he had written for Women Action Forum. Earlier, in a session titled ‘Beyond Extremism’, Iranian-American author Reza Aslan said 20th century was the most violent century in the history as it was responsible for killing and murder millions of people in the name different ideologies. He however added that one cannot only blame religion for spreading hate as other forces can also be responsible for violence and extremism. Extremism is a reactionary phenomenon, he said, adding that it is important to note that the menace is caused by lack of political participation or economic disempowerment. But if you answer those things and provide platform to resolve these issues, it will help eradicate extremism, he said. He observed that people has now realised that ISIS are not facing these issues as they are educated and many of them belongs to middle class. Talking about sectarianism, he said that it is always part of Islam from very beginning, adding that regional powers are using this for manipulating people for their own interests. Published in Daily Times, February 26th 2018.