KARACHI: A meeting to recall the fond memories of a noble soul- the late Mushtaq Gazder, former secretary of the Pakistan Arts Council, was held a the council’s premises on Wednesday.

Presided over by S H Hashmi, the meeting was addressed by MG’s long time friends, associates and admires- Obaidullah Baig, Azher Abbas Hashmi, SNM Shahzad, Mujahid Barelvi and Shehnaz Ahad.

MG had died of heart failure in November last year.

S H Hashmi, vice-president of the Arts Council, while admiring the qualities of the late MG, informed the audience that the air-conditioned auditorium of the Arts Council, which was under construction, would be completed in a few months time. Hashmi added that it was made possible by the sincere efforts of the late secretary who, though he was elected from an opposite panel of candidates, whole-heatedly co-operated with him.

MG, he said, was a creative person, highly sensitive and devoted to his task of film-making. It was MG who raised the salaries of the staff, got their lives insured and jobs secured, Hashmi said.

Shehnaz Ahad in her paper eulogised MG for his devotion to the cause of women, children and oppressed people. It was he, who came to her help when SA was without a job, appreciated her writing skill.

Other speakers admired MG for his documentaries acknowledged and awarded internationally.

Obaidullah Beg lamented the indifference of the state and also the people towards the art of film-making and documentaries which, he said, should be treated as an essential part of our cultural life. While MG was doing his documentation by his own choice, Mr Beg said, he had no choice but to fulfil the official demand. He had, however, earned his freedom after a long time. Salma Beg did the comparing.

SNM Shahzad, who had come to speak, broke into tears and could not do so.—Hasan Abidi