LAHORE: Ajoka presented two plays on third day of the theatre festival it is holding to celebrate its 30 years at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Tuesday.

The first play Dekh Tamasha Chalta Bun, written by Shahid Mahmood Nadeem and directed by Madeeha Gauhar, was dedicated by Ajoka to Multan-based human rights activist Rashid Rehman who was slain last week.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Gauhar condemned the killing of Rashid Rehman while saying that Ajoka was dedicating the play to him as he was a friend of Ajoka and a great activist of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

The play Dekh Tamasha Chalta Bun was first staged in 1992. It is a strong comment on religious intolerance and politics of power.

The second play was Kari. It was first staged in 2003. The play deals with the proceedings of Panchayat of men sitting for judgment on their own women who were accused of violating the tribal code of honour.

The performances by Ajoka could not start in time due to a function held in the same hall. The function participants left the hall by 7:30pm whereas they were supposed to vacate it by 6pm.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.