2nd Museeb-ur-Rehman memorial lecture held

Shaiqee Ne’ Fun, a leading socio-cultural organisation of expatriate Pakistanis in Qatar, organised 2nd Museeb-ur-Rehman Memorial Lecture at the Pakistan Embassy Auditorium recently.

The key note lecture was given by Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, an internationally known scholar and Rector of International Islamic University, Islamabad. Zahid Nasrullah Khan, Charge d' Affaires at the Pakistan embassy, presided over. The event was held as part of celebrations to mark the Pakistan Day.

Furqan Ahmed Paracha and Fahimuddin Syed compered the programme. Farzana Safdar, producer and announcer of Radio Qatar Urdu Service introduced Professor Malik to the audience who has over 44 years of teaching and research experience at postgraduate level.

Professor Malik, who has served as Chairman of National Language Authority, Cabinet Division, Islamabad, for 8 years before his present position said there was a need to revive the ideology of Pakistan which called for a liberal, democratic and progressive country for the Muslims of the subcontinent. He noted that the challenges currently faced by Pakistan are the result of its un-called for support to the Western forces in cold war. "The so-called madrassas and jihadis are remnants of cold war era," said Professor Malik adding that the only salvation for Pakistan is to do away with its alliance with the Western forces and revive the true spirit for which Pakistan was created in 1947.

Briefing the audience about the various incidents of history that led to the creation of Pakistan, Professor Malik said the country was created on the basis of the two-nation theory initiated by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in 1868 and later enunciated by Allama Mohammad Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam, founder of Pakistan. He said Iqbal had clearly stated in 1930 in Allahabad that Muslims of the subcontinent were not a minority but a separate nation unto themselves.

Professor Malik, who is a staunch believer of two-nation theory and federation of Pakistan, noted that the creation of Pakistan was a unique incident in the history of the world when Muslims of the Indian sub-continent opted to lead their lives in accordance with their faith and belief. “No other country in the world is created on the basis of any ideology,” remarked who Professor Malik who is recipient of Presidential Sitara-e-Imtiaz (literature) award.

Professor Malik is also recipient Iqbal Presidential Award, Pakistan Writers Guild Award on Literary Criticism, Gold Medal Award in the field of Writers on Kashmir, Nazaria-e-Pakistan Council Gold Medal and Punjab University Gold Medal for securing First Class First Position in M A Urdu.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Atiq, Chairman of Shaiqee Ne' Fun, paid rich tributes to the services of Rehman contribution towards the promotion of Urdu language and literature in Qatar. Rehman was founder of Shaiqeen-e-Fun and Majlis Frogh-e-Urdu Adab. Atiq reiterated to continue the mission of Rahman with same spirit.

Khan appreciated Professor Malik for delivering a thought-provoking lecture and noted that eminent scholars like him were an asset for the nation.

Two students of Pakistan Education Centre, Mona Hakeem and Mua’z Khurram regaled the audience with a patriotic song