RAWALPINDI: Rich tributes were paid to veteran politician and noted Pashto poet Mohammad Ajmal Khattak here at a reference organised by the Awami Party Pakistan (APP) on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, Harris Khalique of the APP described him as a beacon of light for the poor and downtrodden people, says a press release.
Abdul Sattar, a candidate of the APP for NA-55 by-polls, recalled the services rendered by Ajmal Khattak and said he was a committed political worker who suffered imprisonment and self-exile for years due to his strong conviction and ideas for social change.
A condolence message by APP NWFP chapter’s Shahab Khattak was read out to the audience, elaborating the contribution of revolutionary poet and scholar.
Presiding over the reference, APP Convener Dr Hassan Nasir urged the participants to adhere to values and principles of Mr Khattak.
Ashfaque Saleem Mirza, Ayub Malik, Lala Aurangzeb, Latif Orakzai and Aleem Khattak also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the participants also observed two minutes silence on the occasion.
Jonaid Iqbal adds: Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Chairman Fakhar Zaman in his condolence message on the death of Ajmal Khattak said the late poet was a man of principal and occupied a prominent place among the men of letters.
He termed his death not a loss only to literature but also to politics.
Mr Zaman said Mr Khattak was among the few writers who introduced new trends in Pashto literature and reshaped it according to the modern world literature.
Mr Zaman and PAL Director-General Dr Rashid Hameed prayed for the departed soul and bereaved family members.
Meanwhile, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Minister for Housing and Works Rehmatullah Kakar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and MNA Zafar Baig Bhittani have expressed sorrow over the death of veteran politician and leader of Awami National Party Mohammad Ajmal Khan Khattak.
Senate Chairman Farooq H.Naek and Deputy Chairman Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali have expressed condolence over the death of Ajmal Khattak.
Source: Dawn
Date:2/9/2010
