Zubair Qureshi
Writers, intellectuals and scholars while participating in the Nazriya Pakistan Council’s (NPC) monthly literary and cultural forum Nukta-e-Nazr held at the Aiwan-e-Quaid on Thursday urged the government to change its strategy and devise a policy that would result in freedom of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K) so that we could leave to our progeny a gift of a ‘free Kashmir.’
Chairman of the NPC Mian Muhammad Javed presided over the interactive session that was devoted specifically to the cause of Kashmir in the backdrop of Kashmir Day (Feb 5) being observed today (Friday).
Senior journalist Zahid Hussain Chughtai delivered a keynote address and discussed in detail various aspects of Kashmir issue, its background and the recent status.
Mian Muhammad Javed while welcoming the guests held Pakistan was incomplete without Kashmir and four generations of Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives and dreams with a hope that one day their territory would be liberated from the clutches of the occupying Indian forces.
He however paid rich tributes to the writers and poets, scholars and intellectuals who have kept the momentum all these years enkindling the flame of freedom in the hearts of the people by weaving songs of liberty.
Zahid Chughtai in his address expressed gratitude to the NPC for organizing debate on a subject that is ok key importance for Pakistanis and very close to their hearts.
He said our writers should take inspiration from Allama Iqbal’s thoughts as Poet of the East lways stressed freedom of mind and spirit through his message of “Khudi.”
It is our collective duty to release our youth from mental subjugation and restore those traditions which are hallmarks of free mind and independent thinking.
Former Ambassador Abrar Hussain Bukhari said even before independence of Pakistan, Allama Iqbal and other scholars, poets and writers wrote poems about Kashmir. Their writings always kept this issue alive. Even today, I salute our intellectuals for keeping the momentum alive and highlighting the Indian atrocities in the occupied territory.
Anjum Khalique Director Media of the NPC conducted the proceedings and presented quotes/poems from great writers and poets about Kashmir. Among others who participated in the discussion included Wafa Chishti, Naseem Sehar, Dr Saba Javed, Arshad Chehal, Nasir Mengal, Farkhanda Sahmim, Aftab Haider and Nusrat Yab Khan.
