PESHAWAR: Popular Pashto folk singers kept university students spellbound through their silky voices and traditional orchestra at an event here on Wednesday.

The students, members of various organisations, elders and political workers of Buner district attended the event, which was organised by Buner Students Society (BSS) to mark annual cultural night and give away awards to outstanding students.

Noted Pashto singers Gul Sanga, Janas Khan, Khalid Malak and Zahid Tabbassum performed at the annual event. They sang numbers of Ghani Khan, Ajmal Khattak, Abaseen Yousafzai and a few other poets.

Zahid Tabassum was the first to appear on the stage and set the tone for an enjoyable musical concert. Janas Khan sang his famed Pashto tappas while Gul Sanga stole the show by her bewitching performance. She sang folk songs and received a huge applause from the participants.

Gul Sanga steals show at cultural night by her bewitching performance

Students from Waziristan, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan presented a beautiful traditional dance on the tunes of rabab, tabla and harmonium. Khalid Malak sang Pashto ghazals in his peculiar style and garnered appreciation for his live performance. Traditional orchestra, dance and folk songs kept the audience glued to their seats for hours.

Zeeshan Khan, a young student of Agricultural University, told this scribe that students got new spirit by participating in positive events especially in educational and cultural functions. He said that BSS had been founded a few years ago and the number of students hailing from Buner had been increasing every year.

Sardar Khan Jahan, a leader of ANP from Buner, was chief guest on the occasion. He urged the students to focus on their studies and never get involved in active politics. He announced Rs70,000 cash for the welfare of BSS.

Around 20 students were given awards for their outstanding contributions to students’ welfare. Hafiz Iqbal, a visually impaired talented student, was decorated with special medal and award.

Advocate Farooq Khan and Hassan Khan, activists of ANP, also announced Rs20,000 and Rs30,000 respectively for BSS.

Ashfaq Khan, chief of BSS, presented a brief history of Buner and its people. He said that people of Buner were known for their bravery, simplicity and hospitality. “In addition to its natural beauty and green hills, the land of Buner also has shrines of popular Sufi saints like Pir Baba, Dewana Baba and Sartor Faqir,” said Mr Khan. He added that BSS had been conducting various literary, cultural and social activities to create awareness among students.

Iqbalzeb, chief of BSS at University of Peshawar, said that people of Buner lagged behind in the field of education as compared to other districts of the province. He said that his colleagues had planned to launch a campaign to create awareness among Buner students to work for promotion of education in the area.

Fitrat Buneri, a young Pashto poet, recited an inspiring poem in which he praised the natural beauty of Buner along with its brave residents. He requested politicians of the area to extend their support to BSS in organising healthy and positive activities. He also moderated the show in a befitting manner.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2017