KARACHI, May 15: The people of Karachi flocked to the National Stadium on Sir Shah Sulaiman Road in their hundreds on Friday night to attend the 14th Aalmi Mushaira.

The Mushaira, organized by Sakinan-i-Shaher-i-Quaid Karachi, saw poets from different cities of Pakistan and from other countries, including India, recite their poetry amid great acclaim and, at times, amid catcalls.

Much to the consternation of those who reached the venue of the poetic gathering on time, the Mushaira started at least three hours late. The organizers of the Mushaira would not start the proceedings before the arrival of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, who did not turn up at all, leaving the organizers disenchanted.

Others who also absented themselves from the Mushaira included Housing and Works Minister Syed Safwanullah, Urdu University vice-chancellor Pirzada Qasim, Sahar Ansari, Aqeel Ahmed Fiza Azimi, Ahmed Faraz, Kishwar Naheed, Munir Niazi and Iftikhar Arif.

The Mushaira, which Sakinan-i-Shaher-i-Quaid-i- Karachi has been organizing since 1989, was earlier scheduled to be held on May 8. It was postponed after the May 7 bomb blast in the city.

While there was tight security at the venue, law-enforcement personnel kept a low profile. Except for frisking at the gate, a visitor did not have to go through any security-related problems.

Azhar Abbas Hashmi of Sakinan-i-Shaher-i-Quaid read out the welcome address. He thanked Federal Interior Mister Faisal Saleh Hayat, Foreign Ministry Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri and Housing and Works Minister Syed Safwanullah for helping the organizers with the visa matters of visiting poets.

He also informed the audience that a cheque for Rs500,000 had been given by the Sindh governor, who had promised to provide the Sakinan-i-Shaher Quaid Trust with the amount at the last Mushaira.

While the crowd generally hooted and cheered, a silence descended upon the National Stadium when senior poet Tabish Dehlavi recited his poems. His turn came early because he wanted to leave.

Waseem Barailvi from India also received a lot of applause from the audience who enjoyed and appreciated his Ghazals.

The proceedings of the Mushaira were telecast live on two huge television screens. An FM channel also broadcast the proceedings of the Mushaira.

Naqash Kazimi, Asim Siddiqui and Rizwan Siddiqui conducted the Mushaira.

The poets who took part in the Mushaira included Popular Meeruthi, Nawaz Deobandi, Mansoor Usmani, Afzal Munglori, Ana Dehlavi, Humaira Rehman, Dr Sabeeha Saba, Sohail Saqib, Anwer Barailvi, Enayat Ali Khan, Shabnum Roomani, Khalid Alig, Ajaz Rehmani, Sajjad Sukhan, Rafiuddin Raz, Ghous Mithrawi, Jamal Naqvi, Wazahat Naseem and Rukhsana Saba.