SHANGLA: A literary session was held here on Saturday where poets paid respects to Sufi poet Hafiz-e-Alpuri, also known as Hafiz Baba.

The poetry session has been an annual feature organised by Hafiz-e-Alpuri literary society (Adabi Tolana).

Opposition leader in the district council Haji Sadeed-ur-Rehman was the chief guest. Local poets, including Fazal Rahim Lohar, Musa Yousafzai, Faiz Ali Faiz, Mohammad Akhter Akhter, Rab Nawaz, Nadim Charagh, Najeebullah Shaheen, Aqal Zada and others recited their numbers, highlighting the message of peace and beauty of the district reflected in the poetry of Hafiz Baba.

They pointed out that the district had produced many a good poet like Hafiz Baba, who wrote numerous Pashtu poetry books, which were popular in the Pakhtun belt. However, they lamented the apathy of the government towards the wellbeing of poets and writers.

The poets complained that the directorate of culture, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had kept them deprived of the yearly stipend. They also demanded of the government to construct a jirga hall in Shangla for holding such activities.

On the occasion, Sadeed Rehman, who belongs to ANP, said his party had been focusing on promotion of Pakhtun literature and culture. He said the party would give Bacha Khan Aman Award to local poets to encourage them to continue their struggle for enlightenment of the society.

SEMINAR: Speakers at a seminar on Saturday stressed that religion Islam and Pakistani laws did not allow the domestic violence against women. They said the Pakhtun society gave utmost respect to women.

The seminar was organised by Nida-Pakistan, an NGO, under the women empowerment project at Alpuri Press Club. Officials of line departments, civil society activists and mediapersons spoke on the occasion.

They highlighted that men and women enjoyed equal rights in Islam, calling for ensuring that health, education and economic needs of women were adequately fulfilled.

They also asked the government to device a policy for economic empowerment of rural women.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2017