March, 24 2005	Thursday	13 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 23: The families of Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hasan and film star Rangeela have refused to accept cheques for Rs200,000 each from the government, culture minister Ajmal Khan told the Senate Standing Committee on Culture, Sports and Tourism here on Tuesday.

The minister stated this when Senator Enver Baig pointed out the ailing condition of the two celebrities and questioned the role played by the government for artists’ welfare. Senator Baig said film star Rangeela was being helped for treatment by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, while an Indian artist raised funds for the treatment of Mehdi Hasan. He said the ministry had given an assurance that it would help the ailing artists who entertained millions, but any concrete steps taken by the government in this regard were yet to be made public.

When the minister said cheques were refused by the families of the artists, Senator Baig said: “Show some heart and, at least, give Rs1 million each to the artists. Mehdi Hasan is the Ghazal King.”

However, when the minister said it was beyond his powers to give more money, the senator recommended that the minister should get special approval from the prime minister.

The committee chairman, Senator Zafar Iqbal, supported the idea of Senator Baig and said a recommendation of the committee should be sent to the prime minister that at least Rs1 million rupees be given to the artists.

The minister assured the committee that he would move a case to the prime minister in this regard.