MINGORA: Poets from across the Swat district paid homage to the victims of the Peshawar school attack through their verses at a poetry session held at Rahimabad area here on Sunday.

Swat Adabi Sanga, a literary society, organised the event to express sorrow over the tragic incident and sympathise with the families of those who lost lives in the gory incident at the Army Public School and College, Peshawar, on December 16.

A local politician, Sayed Haider Ali Shah, presided over the poetry session, while prominent Pashto poet, Hanif Qais, was the chief guest.

On the occasion, Usman Olasyar, president of Suvastu Arts and Culture Association, said that the event was aimed at condemning the brutal attack and showing solidarity with the aggrieved families.

He said that poets had been raising their voice for lasting peace through their poetry, adding that they would continue their struggle to give hope to the people.

He said that Pakhtuns had been victims of terrorism since long. “It is the responsibility of all the Pakhtun leaders, including Asfandyar Wali, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Aftab Sherpoa, to play their due role in steering the suffering Pakhtuns out of the current precarious situation,” he added.

Abdul Ghafoor, another poet, said that Pakhtuns wouldn’t allow slaughter of their children any more, and added that history was witness to the fact that no one could conquer the Pakhtuns.

Poet Syed Haider Ali Shah called for unity among Pakhtuns for peace, saying that Pakhtun leaders should play role in defeating militancy in the region.

Poets Fazal Mahmood Rokhan, Naqeeb Ahmad, Nadeem Cheragh, Sikander Kaskar, Shams ul Iqbal Shams, Sarwar Khattak, Sahib Kamal, Rooh ul Amin Nayab, Abdul Ghafoor Baba, Sirajuddin Siraj, Faiz Ali and Burhanuddin Hasrat were among those who presented their verses, lauding the sacrifices of innocent children and condemning the barbarism of Taliban.

LOW GAS PRESSURE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmaker, Fazal Hakeem Khan, on Sunday threatened that people would forcibly lock SNGPL offices in Swat if the issue of low gas pressure was not resolved without delay.

Addressing a news conference at the press club, he said that the people of Mingora and surrounding areas had been facing low gas pressure due to the poor management and unplanned distribution of gas by the authorities concerned.

The PTI lawmaker alleged that SNGPL awarded contract for laying down a six-inch gas line in Mingora to the communication and works department instead of the National Highway Authority, which had failed to complete the project.

WINTER VACATIONS: The University of Swat and its affiliated academic units will remain closed on account of winter vacations from Monday (December 22) till Friday (January 23, 2015).

However, according to a press release, all the offices will remain open during the working days from 8.30am to 4m during vacations. Scheduled tests, interviews and examinations will also be conducted accordingly.

Published in Dawn December 22th , 2014