KARACHI: A poetry collection by Khursheed Iqbal Haider, Tujh se roshan her ek sang-i-meel, was launched at the Pakistan Arts Council on Monday.

The ceremony was presided over by Jamiluddin Aali. Sindh minister Rauf Siddiqui was the chief guest. Aasim Siddiqui did the compering.

Speaking at the well-attended function, Jamiluddin Aali admired the poet for his commitment to the ideology he believed in and held his ideals supreme. His poetry collection, which is the fifth volume after the earlier publication of four other collections, he said it was based not on an imaginary ‘mahbooba’ like most traditional poets,’ but on the life of a living and genuine person (Altaf Hussain). It was poetry of resistance written with passion. Aali also praised MQM leader Altaf Hussain, because of whose political far-sightedness and wisdom, Sindh in the present time was a province of peace and triquillity.

Rauf Siddiqui also paid compliments to the poet and recalled the years of his own exile. He recited his verse written during those days.

Among those who spoke on the occasion on the poetry collection and also the poet included Mohsin Bhopali, Afaq Siddiqui, Khursheed Khawer Amrohvi, Gulnar Afreen, herself a committed poet, Nighat Siraj and Khwaja Rahman. They spoke highly of the verses written by a mature and senior poet who knew how to make his message effective.—Hasan Abidi