Birth anniversary: Politicians invoke Iqbal

‘The souls of Jinnah, Iqbal will not rest in peace until all crooks are brought to justice’.

LAHORE:

Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s 134th birth anniversary was marked on Wednesday with much political fervour. Hosts of citizens, too, headed to Iqbal’s tomb to pay their respects and offer prayers. The national flag was hoisted on government buildings in the city.

Official celebrations began with the change of guards at 7:45 am. The Punjab Rangers handed over the guard to the Pakistan Navy. Station Commander Commodore Akbar Naqi led the Pakistan Navy guard.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary, speaking to a gathering at the Aiwan-i-Iqbal, said it is vital for the country to follow the guidelines laid down by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal. The chief justice also cut a cake at the ceremony.

Iqbal Day events were also organised by political parties. Governor Sardar Latif Khosa visited Iqbal’s tomb where he offered fateha. The governor said Allama Iqbal had convinced Muhammad Ali Jinnah to lead the Muslims of the sub-continent in the struggle for an independent country. He added that the need of the hour was to comprehend the message contained in Iqbal’s poetry. He observed that Imran Khan’s rally at Minar-i-Pakistan had side-lined the PML-N in Lahore.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik also paid his respects at the tomb. The minister called the PML-N a ‘not-so-friendly opposition’. Malik hoped, however, that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would avoid using improper language while speaking about the president.

The chief minister laid a floral wreath at the tomb. He said the nation should work on the great ideals advocated by the national poet.

He added that the souls of Jinnah and Iqbal will not rest in peace until all crooks are brought to justice.

Sharif said he had declared his assets within 24 hours of his return to the country after his exile.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2011.