KARACHI, Nov 7: Mehfil Naqd-o-Nazer, supposed to be the last in the tenure of the sitting Adbi committee, was held on Nov 6 at the Pakistan Arts Council with Shafi Aqeel in the chair. As poets and lone-fiction writer presented their writings, Anwar Ahmad Zai was invited as a reviewer.

Shakeel Akhtar, Seema Ghazal, Rukhsana Saba and Anwaar Azmi read out their verses and ghazals. Qaiser Saleem, author of around a dozen books, novels and travelogues, narrated his short-story, its basic content against the loan and interest, which evokes the dignity, self-confidence and independence of a person and also a nation.

Anwar Zai admired the story with one technical flaw that when its surrounding from a restaurant to a social gathering changed, it suffered a jolt.

He praised the poets who presented the true socio- cultural environment in their couplets very effectively and with such an ease. The satire in the quartet of Anwaar Azmi was also received warmly which said:

Sab say pehley Pakistan

Baad mein hain deeno-o-Eiman

(Pakistan comes first, faith is secondary)

Mr Zai said pity on those who meekly and innocently follow the slogans and forget the higher values in life. Supporting the poet’s views, he perhaps meant that the solidarity of the country and loyalty to the faith both could not go together since they were poles apart. The message was clear in the present political scenario.

Shafi Aqeel, in his brief presidential remarks, sided with the audience who were simply the mute listeners of the evening and were not allowed to comment on the literary pieces.

But Naqqash Kazmi, chairman of the Adbi Committee, had his own reasons. It had almost always been unmanageable for him as members of the audience when allowed to speak crossed all limits of decorum and delicacy, he had earlier complained.

But most of those present were duly compensated as more than 30 of them — the poets, writers journalists and photographers — were presented shields for their good conduct and cooperation with the Arts Council. The last to speak was secretary of the Arts Council Ms Qudsia Akber who thanked the guests and the writers.—Hasan Abidi