HYDERABAD, April 22: Writers, poets and intellectuals of Sindh have made it clear that efforts to distort the meaning of the poetry and philosophy of the immortal poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai will not be tolerated.
They said this while speaking at a literary gathering organized by the Bazm-i-Rooh Rihan to mark the conclusion of the three-day-long Urs of Shah Latif.
Scholars expressed their resentment, saying a conspiracy was afoot to distort the meaning of the poetry of the great sufi poet.
They resolved that in the future, the Shah Latif Adabi Conference would be held at the Dargah of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai coinciding with the Urs ceremonies.
The meeting also called for holding a Mushaira at the time of the Urs besides demanding setting up of an institution for teaching the poetry of Shah Saheb.
President of the Bazm and noted short story writer Hameed Sindhi, on the occasion, said that Latif conferences should be held in the educational institutions of Sindh and urged the government to issue directives in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, noted poet Imdad Hussain stressed the need for promoting the Sindhi language, adding that practical steps should be taken in this regard.
Noted educationist and writer Dr Habibullah Siddiqui, Ms Sehr Imdad, Parwano Bhatti, Din Mohammad Akram, Nasir Baloch and Inayatullah Zangajo also spoke on the occasion.
LECTURE: Freedom of expression is the basic right of the people and no government can claim to be democratic without empowering the people.
This was said by Noor Mohammad Bajeer, regional director of the Strengthening People’s Organisation, while delivering a lecture on ‘Freedom of Information’ at the Sindh Educational Trust here late Sunday evening.
The programme was sponsored by an NGO called Balak Association for Development and Research.
He said democracy was a misnomer unless the people were allowed complete freedom to elect their representatives.
He said the people were not given correct information about important issues on various pretexts, including the national interest.
The people, he said, had the right to information, adding that members of the provincial and national assemblies should raise their voice in this regard.
MEDICAL CAMP: The Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation organized a one-day medical camp inside the central jail, Hyderabad, on Saturday.
Consultants and physicians, dental surgeons including Dr Shoaib Ansari, Dr Aftab Alam Khanzada, Dr Tariq Afridi and others examined the patients.