LAHORE: Panicked by the sudden cancellation of the musical performances, the main feature at the Punjab government-back “Lahore Lahore Aye” festival, and apprehending thin attendance at the event, the information and culture department ordered its officials to compulsorily attend the devotional (Sufi) music concert at Alhmra, The Mall.

The department issued a formal notice through its administration director, saying the officers and officials should ensure their presences (if possible, with families) at all cost at the Sufi music concert being held at Alhamra Hall # 1, The Mall, on Saturday from 6pm to 9pm.

“The officers and officials, who will fail to attend the event will be held responsible and disciplinary action will be taken,” the notice says.

Vividly showing the desperation of the department high-ups, the notice also states, “All Directors and sectional heads are requested to ask their subordinate staff and officers to be present at the occasion at the stipulated time”. It goes on to say “No Excuse shall be accepted”.

However, official sources told Dawn that the information department’s all efforts went in vain as the attendance at the Sufi Night, which was also attended by caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, remained extremely thin, with almost half of the seats in the hall lying vacant.

The information department had made elaborate arrangements for the 16-day “Lahore Lahore Aye” festival, engaging top singers to perform at musical nights on a daily basis.

However, the caretaker Punjab government was instructed at the eleventh to cancel the musical performances in solidarity with the innocent Palestinians being killed in war-torn Gaza.

This put the department high-ups in a fix as they could not cancel such an elaborate event at a short notice.

The department had earlier planned musical nights at Alhamra Cultural Complex’s Open Air Theater featuring Hamid Ali Khan, Hadiqa Kiani, Humera Arshad, Sahir Ali Baga, Arif Lohar, Sarah Raza, Sanam Marvi, Naseebo Lal and others.

However, after change of the plan, the department also changed the venue, shifting the event to the Alhamra Halls, The Mall.

Earlier, the CM inaugurated the festival by cutting the ribbon of Punjab Art Exhibition which was curated by Mina Haroon, assistant director (fine Arts) Lahore Arts Council.

The exhibition had on display 80 paintings by 25 artists. He then attended the Sufi night for a brief period of time and sat for one Sufi number Kuntu Maula sung by Sanam Marvi and then he left the venue. He didn’t deliver any speech.

Alhamra was well illuminated and stage was bedecked with flowers. On chief minister’s arrival, bhangra, camel and luddi dances were presented in the outdoor. A parallel theatre is also part of the festival. Ajoka staged the inaugural paly Kala Meda Bhais at the opening of the festival.

Meanwhile, Jammat-i-Islami youth wing took out a protest demonstration at the gate number 2 of Alhamra showing solidarity with Palestinians.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2023