Abbas Sarwar Qureshi, head of chancery at the Pakistani Embassy, speaks at the event in Riyadh.

The Pakistani community paid glowing homage to great philosopher and poet Allama Iqbal, remembering his contributions to poetry and Islamic philosophy, which bears a lesson of love, peace, unity and integrity, brotherhood and tolerance.

Bazm-e-Iqbal, a literary organization of overseas Pakistanis, and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) jointly organized “Iqbal day” a symposium dedicated to the great poet to observe his 137th birth anniversary which is celebrated with great fervor worldwide.

Iqbal, popularly known as the “Poet of the East” was born on Nov. 9, 1877 in Sialkot, now in Pakistan.

Addressing the session Abbas Sarwar Qureshi, head of chancery at the Pakistani Embassy, underlined the values in Iqbal’s poetic philosophy saying, “It bears a lesson of love, peace, unity and integrity, brotherhood and tolerance for us and defines the pathway to a successful life.”

Qureshi pointed that apart from being a philosopher and poet, Iqbal was a great politician as the very idea of Pakistan goes to his credit.

In reference to the relevance of the doctrines defined by Iqbal and the current situation, he observed, “We can defeat the ongoing violence in many parts of world including Pakistan by following the lessons of the great poet, contained in his poetry.”

Another guest speaker Prof. Asif Qureshi of Majlis-e-Pakistan echoed the sentiment suggesting that Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy should be integrated into the syllabus of Pakistan’s schools, colleges and Universities to learn lessons and revive the memories of Muslims’ former glory.

Saeed Ahmad Waince, president PML (N) Riyadh, who presided over the session said that Iqbal was a poet-philosopher of the modern age who preached revolutionary ideas through his poetry.

Bazm-e-Iqbal President Adnan Butt and patron in chief Rashid Butt echoed the sentiments asserting that Iqbal’s poetry lent new life, courage and enthusiasm to the Muslim Ummah.

The speakers also recited Iqbal’s famous couplets during their addresses to regale the audience.

Other speakers at the gathering included Chaudhary Mobeen (PML-N), Faisal Alvi, president Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees, Riyadh, Waseem Sajid, Thinkers forum, and Fayyaz A Khan, president Pakistan Peoples Party, Riyadh. The program was moderated by Asghar Chishti.

 
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