ISLAMABAD, June 22: A meeting called to pay tribute to Omar Asghar Khan, former federal minister for labour and manpower, on his second death anniversary turned into an occasion for a critical examination of the circumstances that culminated in the death of a romanticist.

"Fondly remembering Omar Asghar Khan" began with the recitation by Kishwar Naheed of her latest poem about the "Man of Conviction" who had devoted himself to realization of high ideals for a new dawn for the downtrodden.

Mr Khan's widow, Samina Khan, was also present among a large number of women and men who had known and worked with the founder of "Sungi", the NGO devoted to mobilising the people for their own uplift.

They recalled his role in obtaining for women 33 per cent seats in the local councils and provincial/national assemblies and in getting the principle of joint electorate accepted by the military government in the 2002 elections.

Though some of colleagues and friends reminisced fondly about Mr Khan, it had to be a reference with a difference for those gathered there had come into contact with him and worked with him because they shared certain ideals with him.