PESHAWAR: Noted Pashto singer Haroon Bacha spellbound audience at a local hotel here on Monday evening by rendering some popular numbers of senior and young poets.

The local artists, poets, writers and fans attended the event in large number. The Czech Republic-based singer received rounds of loud applause from the participants. He performed after two years on the stage following his return from abroad.

The show was organised under the auspices of a private Pashto TV channel. Artists and fans also dwelt on contributions of Mr Bacha to Pashto music. They said that he had pioneered a new trend in the art of Pashto folk music and many young singers followed in his footprints and scaled new heights of success.

Haroon Bacha says music plays vital role in eradication of extremism

Mr Bacha sang numbers of Hamza Baba, Khatir Afridi, Abdur Rahim Roghani, Abaseen Yousafzai, Pir Mohammad Karwan, Sayed Shah Saud, Miawnd Fida and Israr Atal. His lip-synch show was followed by live performance with traditional Pashto orchestra.

A group of fans from Balochistan and Waziristan tuned to traditional dance when Mr Bacha sang out his popular tappas and registered a captivating spell on the audience.

Speaking to the gathering prior to his performance, the singer said that music played a vital role in eradication of radicalisation and extremism.

He said that music could pave the way for brining permanent peace in the region.

He added that peace was inevitable as people had suffered a lot owing to militancy and philistinism.

“I hope our artists will survive the current wave of militancy as Pashto music has a bright future. Young Pashto poets are emerging and so as new music compositions to create charming symphonies on Pashto music charts,” said Mr Bacha.

Speaking on the occasion, Pashto poet Faiz Ali Faiz said that Haroon Bacha was the nightingale of Pashto folk music.

He added that he had a matchless voice due to his unique style, composing experience and strength of quality.

“Haroon Bacha in fact serves as a bridge between classical and modern Pashto music as he skillfully blends the two in his most compositions. I enjoy the privilege and feel proud to be his colleague at Peshawar University years ago,” said Mr Ali. Karan Khan, a young Pashto singer, said that Haroon Bacha had conducted new experiments with Pashto music but also achieved great success in sequential music. He said that there was deep slump in the music market but quality music still reigned supreme. He said that folk music had the strength to overwhelm hearts and minds.

Bakhtiar Khattak moderated the show. Ehsan Danish, a young artist from Swabi, presented a pencil portrait of Mr Bacha to him as token of recognition of his services for Pashto music.

Published in Dawn December 27th, 2016