PESHAWAR: Pashto scholars, poets and vocalists paid rich tributes to renowned composer, singer and poet late Rafiq Shinwari during a function here on Friday evening.

The function was organised by the cultural committee of the Peshawar Press Club in the memory of the composer, who didn’t know how to play a musical instrument himself. The event comprised a seminar and a musical show.

Syed Tahir Bukhari, famous poet and scholar, presided over the seminar, where provincial minister Shah Farman was the chief guest.

On the occasion, the speakers, who included Radio Pakistan’s Abbottabad station director Laiq Zada Laiq, composer AR Anwar, vocalist Mahjabeen Qazalbash, Aziz Ejaz, Shaukat Hussain and others, threw light on the life and work of Rafiq Shinwari. Mr Shinwari was also famous for singing mystic poetry of Hamza Shinwari and composed thousands of songs for Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television. He had been awarded with presidential award for his work.

Later, famous Pashto vocalists Mahjabeen Qazalbash, Anwar Khyal, Hashmat Sahar and Zafar Iqrar rendered popular numbers composed by Rafiq Shinwari. — Bureau Report

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2014