Literature and journalism go hand in hand, says info minister
The second day of the Sixth Alhamra International Literary and Cultural Festival was packed with activities and interesting sessions.
Literary icons, artists, poets and journalists from all over the country attended the sessions, which gave the average reader the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favourite literary figure.
Discussions held on the second day ranged from art to literature and from music to journalism. The festival is an international event, which brings together poets and literary figures from both Pakistan and India.
A special session was held at the event on the subject of journalism, which was attended by Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid. Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami, veteran journalist Imtiaz Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rehman Shami, Javed Chaudhry, City 42 Group Editor Naveed Chaudhry, Lahore Arts Council Chairman Atta ul Haq Qasmi and PFUJ President Afzaal Butt.
Rashid gave a presidential address during “Literature or Journalism.”
He said that literature and journalism are interlinked. “Maulana Zafar Ali Khan excelled in both the fields because of his command over the subjects,” he added.
He further added that literature is incomplete without journalism and vice versa. “The jam packed hall indicates that people are interested in open debates and literature is flourishing in Pakistan,” he maintained.
Rashid said that the Pak Tea House was a symbol of open discussion, since people from all walks of life used to enjoy open debate under one roof. Moreover, he said that dictators in the past were not happy with the Pak Tea House and imposed a ban on it in order to enforce their own will.
The minister gave credit to Atta Qasmi for holding such events and festivals as these play a vital role in developing a society.
Lahore Arts Council Chairman Atta Ul Haq Qasmi said that Rashid is a well-read person and buys books with his own money, even today. He thanked the people present for helping promote the festival by participating in such great numbers.
On the occasion, Arif Nizami said today the standard of journalism had been changed and there was space for bringing improvement in this regard.
He said journalists should pay attention to the grammar of their news items and higher education should play its role for the training of journalists.
In another session, a special discussion was held with the greatest Ghazal poet of this time, Zafar Iqbal. The poet’s son and TV anchorperson Aftab Iqbal also participated in the session.
Iqbal recalled his early days spent with his father and paid homage to him. He said that despite a lack of resources, his father never compromised over the education of any sons, even though at times his mother complained.
He said that Zafar Iqbal’s wit and sense of humour is excellent even at the age of 80. Atta Qasmi termed the poet as the best Ghazal poet of this time. He added that Iqbal had such a creative mind that he still sings Ghazals, even at this stage of life.
At the end of the session, Iqbal’s fans pushed him to recite some of his poems – a request that he complied with.
The international Indo-Pak Mushaira was also held at the end of the day.
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