KARACHI, May 1: Tributes were paid to Habib Jalib, popularly known as Shair-i-Awam, at the meeting held on his 12th anniversary at Karachi Press Club on Saturday.

Among those who addressed the largely attended rally, joined by labour organizations, activists of different political parties and journalists were Abid Hasan Minto, Meraj Mohammad Khan, Senator Raza Rabbani, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui, Muslim Shamim and Mamoon Hussain.

The meeting continued till late in the evening when the ‘mashaal bardars’ (torch bearers of the labour organizations had arrived to join the gathering.

Abid Hasan Manto, who presided over the rally, recalled his association with the great poet and admired his commitment with the cause of the common people and his immense sacrifices for a judicious social order against the unjust military rule.

The speakers with one voice demanded end of army’s rule, the country had been trapped into since Ayub’s imposition of the martial law up to the present times. Feudalism was another cause of the country’s backwardness and poverty, they contended.

Opposition leader Raza Rabbani criticized the government for raising the rates of electricity 15 times in recent days. Dispelling the propaganda that Pakistan People’s Party was having any ‘deal’ with government, he said that all the anti-labour laws would be scrapped when his party came into power after elections.

Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch asked the democratic forces to support the just cause of Balochs in their struggle to obtain their constitutional rights.

Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui said that Jalib’s poetry was “a chart sheet against the rulers.” This poetry was most alluring, fascinating and melodious, Dr Siddiqui said.

The poets who paid their complements to Habib Jalib included Fazil Jamli, Sabir Zafer, Baba Najmi and Hussain Nawaz. Senior poet and literary journalist Hussain Anjum recited his poem written for the occasion. Saeed Pervaiz did the compering. — HA