Zubair Qureshi
Like every year, this year too Parveen Shakir’s friends and fans gathered at her grave in the H-8 graveyard in the cold wintry day of December to warm their hearts with the memories of the great poetess who lived and served in Islamabad and died here too on Dec 26, 1994 composing women representative poems.
On this occasion, rich tributes were paid to the ‘spokesperson’ of women’s feelings for her contributions to Urdu literature. It was her 25nd death anniversary.
The credit to relive her memory also goes to her fast friend and former federal secretary Parveen Qadir Agha who organizes the annual floral wreath laying on her friend’s grave and offering of Fateha. She is also running a trust under her name Parveen Shakir Trust (PST).
Former Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Dr Qasim Bughio, National Secretary Pakistan Youth Hostels Association (PYHA) Ambassador Qazi Humayun, former Income Tax Commissioner Salman Nabi, officers of the Inland Revenue and Customs Services, intellectuals and poets also gathered at Parveen Shakir’s grave to pay respects.
A floral wreathe was also laid on Parveen Shakir’s grave by Pakistan Customs. Chief Collector Dr Asif Mehmood Jah, DG Dr Arsalan, Assistant Commissioner Rao Fahad Iqbal and SP Customs Malik Abid represented their department in reliving memory of Parveen Shakir.
Parveen Shakir’a poetry collections “Khushbu” and others are among the best sellers even today. She was an officer of Income Tax group in Islamabad and met a fatal accident that claimed her life on Dec 26, 1994 while she was on her way to office. At that time, she was only 42.
