HYDERABAD, Nov 9: The Petaro Cadet College observed Iqbal Day in a befitting manner on Wednesday. Speaking as chief guest at the college function, the chairman of the mass communication department, University of Karachi, Dr Tahir Masood, said poetry of Dr Allama Iqbal was all encompassing and it was equally popular among children, the youth and philosophers.

He said that in his poetry, Dr Iqbal had stressed the importance of freedom and national independence for the Ummah.

The others who paid tribute to the national poet included Prof Javed Ahmad, Prof Inayat Ali Khan and the commandant of the college, Commodore Mohammad Abid Saleem.

At another function organized by the Anjuman Jan Nisaran-i-Pakistan at Behlole House, the provincial president of the Shia Ulema Council and MMA leader, Hujatul Islam Allama Hassan Turrabi, said the personality of Dr Iqbal was a role model for the Ummah.

He said his poetry was not only meant for the Ummah or Pakistan but for the entire human being. He said Dr Iqbal was in fact a movement in himself and added that he was strongly opposed to sectarianism and ethnicity.

He called upon people to understand and practice the message of the poet. ‘Paigham-i-Iqbal’ by Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafria Pakistan Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi was also read on the occasion.

Prof Muzaffar Shah Moosvi, Kazim Shah Naqvi, Raees Mirza Kazim Raza, Nizamul Hyder and others also paid tribute to Allama Iqbal.

A collective prayer for the unity of the Ummah and solidarity of Pakistan was also offered.