Call for revival of Pak spirit

Shaiqee-ne-Fun, a socio-cultural forum of expatriate Pakistanis in Qatar, organised the 2nd Museeb-ur-Rehman Memorial Lecture at the Pakistan embassy auditorium last week.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Professor Fateh Mohamed Malik, currently the rector of the International Islamic University, Islamabad.

Pakistan embassy charge d’ affaires Zahid Nasrullah Khan presided while officials Furqan Ahmed Paracha and Fahimuddin Syed compered the proceedings.

The event was held as part of a series to mark Pakistan Day on March 23.

Radio Qatar Urdu Service producer and host Farzana Safdar introduced Prof Malik, who has over 44 years of teaching and research experience at the postgraduate level.

Prof Malik, who served as chairman of the National Language Authority, Cabinet Division, Islamabad, for eight years before his present position, said there is a need to revive the ideology of Pakistan, which calls for a liberal, democratic and progressive country for Muslims of the subcontinent.

He said the challenges currently faced by Pakistan are the result of its “uncalled for” support of Western forces during the Cold War.

“The so-called madrassas and jihadis are remnants of Cold War era,” Prof Malik said, adding that the only way for Pakistan to redeem itself is to do away with its alliance with the West and revive the spirit through which Pakistan was created in 1947.

Shaiqee-ne-Fun chairman Mohamed Atiq paid tribute to the late Museeb-ur-Rehman and his contribution towards the promotion of Urdu language and literature in Qatar.

Rehman was the founder of Shaiqee-ne-Fun and Majlis Frogh-e-Urdu Adab.

Two students of the Pakistan Education Centre, Mona Hakeem and Mua’z Khurram sang a patriotic song for the audience.