Daily Times

LAHORE: The 2nd Faiz International Festival concluded on Sunday at Alhamra with spectacular performances of renowned sufi singer Abida Perveen.

The three-day event was aimed at spreading the message and vision of revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz and also to throw light on different aspects of his life. The event included informative panel discussions on more than 20 different topics as well as theatrical and music performances, workshops on story writing, book launches and exhibitions.

Several renowned literary personalities including poets, writers, scholars, columnists, politicians, singers, actors, journalists addressed and spoke in the panel discussions on the life of Faiz Ahmad Faiz and other related topics. Mustansar Hussain Tarrar, Dr Arifa Syeda, Sarmad Khoosat, Nayyer Ali Dada, Abida Perveen, Anwar Masood, Munno Bhai, Khaled Ahmad, Justice (r) Nasira Iqbal, Nayyara Noor, Tina Sani, Ustad Hamid Ali Khan, Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Suraiya Multanikar, Rahat Bano, Simi Raheel, Samina Peerzada, I A Rehman, Amjad Islam Amjad, Asad Umer, Qamar Zaman Kaira and several other renowned personalities spoke during the three-day event.

Addressing the session ’50 years of Media’, renowned writer, author and novelist Mustansar Hussain Tarar said that media in Pakistan progressed gradually as there was a time when people only had one channel. Now there are numerous TV channels but quality of content was a serious concern, he added.

He was of the view that no one in the early days of media in Pakistan was expecting that it would transform the future in such an impactful way.

Renowned actor Mahira Khan on the occasion said that women in Pakistan usually left their jobs for marriage and children when it was not difficult to manage both. “I would say that there is no issue when you have child at home and you are acting or working outside,” she added. She further told the audience that when she was about to marry, everyone suggested against it, citing an end to her career.

In a session ‘Remembering Justice Javed Iqbal’, Justice (r) Nasira Javed shed light on the life of Allama Iqbal’s son and said that Javed Iqbal was also a great personality just like his father. She said that Javed never compromised on the real ideology of Pakistan, which was pretty difference from the people.

Renowned author and writer Khaled Ahmad was of the view that Javed’s story begins as a loyal son who met his father’s expectations. “He, just like his father, wrote much about how Islamic State works and what should be the role of a cleric,” he added.

In another session titled ‘Faiz and the Relevance of his Poetry Today’, Dr Arfa Syeda Zahra said that Faiz’s poetry would remain more inspirational for future generations as compared to the past and present. She further said that Faiz always struggled for the poor through his poetry, which was obviously dangerous for the opportunists.

She urged the nation to follow the ideology of Faiz to get success in future. She said that Faiz didn’t get success in few years but his continuous struggle for was the actual reason behind his legendary status.

Dr Arifa criticised the ideology of Gen Ziaul Haq and said that in his era the Arabic influence ruined the actual culture of South Asia, as people of South Asia were more loving than anyone else in the world.