LAKKI MARWAT: The local people protested in Lakki city on Sunday against delay in arrest of the killers of noted Pashto poet Syed Zahoor Abbas Shah Afgar Bukhari, who was gunned down at his hujra on Dec 11, last year.

After attending a condolence reference and book-launching ceremony in Mohallah Sayyedan, the protesters reached Qazi Ishfaq Chowk and closed the main artery connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab. The protesters carried banners inscribed with slogans highlighting their demands.

The protesters condemned the poet’s murder and expressed anguish over the delay in arrest of his killers despite lapse of 40 days since the murder took place. They said the killing was aimed to disturb peaceful environment in the area, but the local community showed tolerance and patience so as to foil the malicious designs of the perpetrators of the incident. They said the delay in arrest of the murderers had spread unrest in the entire community.

They demanded of the police authorities to ensure arrest of Afgar Bukhari’s killers without delay.

Earlier, speakers at the condolence reference paid rich tribute to the romantic poet and said his poetic work would keep him alive in the hearts of people for a long time.

The first book of the late poet containing his memoirs and around 25,000 ghazals was also launched on the occasion.

The district administration had arranged Rs100,000 to preserve the poetic works of Afgar Bukhari in the shape of a book.

Local literati and poets from other districts, area elders, political and social activists attended the condolence reference.

The speakers called for continuing the late poet’s mission of spreading peace and harmony in the society.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2020