BY: Raja Noor Ilahi Atif
SARGODHA– A special seminar and revolutionary Mushaira were organized by the Progressive Writers Association of Pakistan and Pak Media Foundation Islamabad in memory of Comrade Hasan Nasir Shaheed and Comrade Nazeer Abbasi Shaheed. The event paid tribute to the struggles and sacrifices of the two prominent figures in the political, intellectual, literary, social and human rights spheres.
The seminar was chaired by Comrade Tanveer Ahmed Khan, while Ameer Hamza Warq, Dr. Khalid Rana, Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry, Comrade Irfan and Raza Naeem attended as guests of honour. The theme of the seminar was “A True Leader Is One Who Brings His Head to the Gallows.” The speakers highlighted the political and social struggles, ideological commitment and sacrifices of Hasan Nasir and Nazeer Abbasi, saying that remembering these figures conveys a message to the younger generation to strive for political awareness, social justice and human rights.
A revolutionary Mushaira was also held as part of the event, presided over by renowned poet Baba Najmi. Mumtaz Rashid Lahori, Zahid Huma Shah, Parveen Sajal, Shaukat Ali Naaz, Dr. Ponam Noorain Gondal, Comrade Irfan Ali, Ruqia Akbar Chaudhry and Khadim Ali Anjum participated as guests of honour. The theme of the Mushaira was “Those Who Carry Fire Burn; They Pierce Their Chests Against the Stones.”
Mushaira participants included Mushtaq Qamar, Nawab Qasuri, Mubeena Aseem, Mian Hanif Tahir, Samina Khan, Malik Irshad Akram, Hashmat Ahmed, Faraz Gul and Shahzad Akmal Jafakash, among other poets. Through their poetry, the poets highlighted various aspects of social injustice, deprivation, human dignity, freedom and resistance, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The event was moderated by Javed Aftab. On the occasion, renowned classical dancer, choreographer and human rights activist Naibzada Asfandyar Khattak, who had arrived from Islamabad, presented an impressive dance performance to Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s celebrated poem “Hum Dekhenge” (We Shall See). His performance further enhanced the intellectual and resistance-oriented atmosphere of the gathering.
During the musical segment, Salma A. Khan and Samina Khan performed revolutionary songs and entertained the audience with their powerful voices. One of the most moving moments of the event came when all participants stood for one minute of silence in tribute to the political and social services and sacrifices of Comrade Hasan Nasir Shaheed and Comrade Nazeer Abbasi Shaheed.
The event brought together politics, literature, poetry, music, dance and various dimensions of human rights on a single platform. The organizers, including Comrade Tanveer Ahmed Khan, Syed Sajjad Bukhari, Javed Aftab, Zimad Grewal, Raza Naeem, Mubeena Aseem and Nabeela Akbar, played an important role in organizing and making the programme successful.
The participants said that the purpose of remembering the struggles and sacrifices of Hasan Nasir and Nazeer Abbasi was not merely to revisit the past, but also to encourage the younger generation to reflect on the intellectual, political and social questions facing society. The speakers observed that voices and ideas may be suppressed temporarily, but the questions recorded in history and the memory of sacrifices can never be erased.
