LAHORE, Nov 9: Allama Iqbal’s thoughts as enshrined in his poetry and prose could become a leading light for the nation to fight the crises it was facing and show the way to making of a prosperous welfare state.

These views were expressed by speakers at a seminar organised at Aiwan-i-Iqbal on Tuesday under aegis of the Markazia Majlis-e-Iqbal on the eve of 133rd birth anniversary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

“Dr Iqbal through his poetry not only forwarded his views on a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent but also showed the real path to a dynamic life amid sustainable development,” federal law and parliamentary affairs minister Babar Awan said on the occasion.

He said Allama Iqbal revived a desire among the Muslims to define their identity themselves by urging them to follow Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in their fight for freedom.

Mr Awan said it was need of the hour to make collective efforts to put the country on the way to prosperity by following philosophy of Dr Iqbal.

Addressing the seminar, human rights activist and Supreme Court Bar Association President Asma Jahangir said though the judiciary could review the laws formulated by the parliament, it could not strike these down.

“To have a system in place and to implement laws properly we will have to make norms for the continued existence and sustainability of democracy and democratic institutions in our country,” she added.

She said Allama Iqbal always thought about elimination of poverty and suggested ways through his poetry, philosophy and ideology to achieve developmental objectives. “The state and civil society members should work enormously for the uplift of women so as to make them prosperous by all means,” Ms Jahangir added.

PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said by following philosophy and thoughts of Dr Iqbal the nation could deal with the crises being faced by the country. “We have to avoid all racial, linguistic and sectarian disparities to make Pakistan a modern Islamic welfare democracy, keeping in view the ideas of Allama Iqbal.”

Columnist Orya Maqbool Jan said poetry of Iqbal reflected history and identity of the Muslims. “The teachings of Iqbal point towards the right way to development,” he added.

Munib Iqbal, Allama Iqbal’s grandson, criticised the Musharraf regime for ‘creating hurdles’ in holding events to pay homage to the philosopher poet. “In Musharraf’s regime we were barred from holding such activities. But we continued to do so and would never stop,” he added.

He said Iqbal’s mausoleum had not been constructed by the government rather it was built with the donations of the Muslims.

Sajjad Mir said Allama Iqbal was supporter of a spiritual democracy. “It means he wanted a real democratic state based on Islam.

Justice Nasira Javaid Iqbal (retired) said Iqbal always encouraged young people through his poetry and philosophy by declaring them an asset of the nation. “So it is duty of the government to create employment resources for the young educated people by filling all vacant seats on merit,” she said.

Arif Nizami, Sahibzada Fazl Karim, Qutubuddin Fareedi and Naseem Faizur Rehman also spoke on the occasion.