KARACHI: Need for peace in region stressed: Jalib remembered
KARACHI: A seminar on Pak-India peace and understanding was held at a meeting to remember late Habib Jalib at the Pakistan Arts Council on Monday.
After a short introductory speech delivered by Saeed Pervez who conducted the proceedings. Zaheda Hena read out her paper recalling a similar meeting held in Delhi in 1989 where Habib Jalib was the centre of attention.
She welcomed the ongoing moves to bring out peace between Pakistan and India. She, however, criticised the foreign policy of the past where several such attempts to create understanding and peace between the two countries were wilfully aborted. She was, therefore, sceptical about the success of the process.
A similar opinion came from former senator and PPP leader Taj Haider who advised caution to holding extreme views— pessimist at one time and optimist at another. He further said that in order to bring out peace in the Subcontinent, we should not look toward the superpower because peace was not their problem, rather war was beneficial to them.
Mr Taj Haider suggested that confidence building measures be adopted by the governments of Pakistan and India, war expenditure be reduced by at least 5 per cent and the money thus saved be spent on poverty alleviation plans in both the countries.
He was, however, doubtful about the success of such a move as “India, in particular, is dominated by Hindu extremists”. Taj Haider admired Jalib’s poetry which had a universal and timeless appeal, bringing courage and solace to the poor. Renowned scholar Abdul Hamid Sindhi said we should hold respect for all cultures and languages, and try to bring them closer. “Peace among countries is essential no doubt, but we should first bring peace among ourselves,” he said. Famous artist Mustafa Qureshi also spoke and Pak India relations and expressed the need of cultural relations between the two countries, “a sure method to bring peace in the region”.
“If the present moves are motivated by any foreign pressure it is a bad omen. We should bring peace through our own efforts,” he said.
The other speakers were Manzoor Razi and Shaikh Majeed; both demanded removal of the IRO-2002 and other anti-labour laws. They urged poets and writers to write for workers as Jalib did throughout his life.
Jalib’s son, Nasir Jalib, spoke about his father and the love he had for Karachiites.
Noted poets Khalid Alig and Naqqash Kazmi paid tributes to Jalib through their verses. The function was hosted by the Progressive Writers Association, Pen for peace and the Pakistan Arts Council.—Hasan Abidi
