Musical evening: Artists express resolve against extremist mindset
PNCA holds events to commemorate Independence Day
“Every life is valuable, however, the Quetta massacre is agonising due to the fact that many members of the intelligentsia having social acumen lost their lives,” said Singer Shahida Mini. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Artists at a musical evening expressed their resolve against extremist mindset and terrorism.
A musical evening highlighting the importance of independence and focusing on conveying a message to the extremists concerning nation’s collective resolve against terrorism was held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), on Saturday.
The musical evening was titled “Shukria Pakistan”.
The programme revolved around the struggles and sacrifices made to achieve a separate homeland.
A wide array of artists performed including Muhammad Ali and Sonia Azeem from Islamabad, Bano Rehmat of Kashmiri descent, Shina Gul a native of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bashir Baloch a resident of Balochistan, Tufail Sanjarani from Sindh, and Shahida Mini from the Punjab.
Moreover, tributes were paid to martyrs who lost their lives in the fight against terrorism.
The event commenced 45 minutes late with families waiting for the VIPs to arrive.
“I do not know when the chief guests will arrive and the event will begin,” an attendee could be heard murmuring.
The other unfortunate feature was the weak attendance.
Later on, more families joined in the festivities as performances started.
Masood Khawaja and Saeed Anwar engaged the audience with satire.
Folk artists wait for the entire year to perform on such occasions, with their livelihoods depending on such performances, PNCA Performing Arts Director Tanveer Kiani said.
“They are our assets, which are dying and we have to keep them alive,” he further added.
Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar, who was the chief guest for the event, said “the show was a hit and we should give a positive message across that notwithstanding the challenges we are resilient and steadfast.”
The PNCA is working for the promotion of art and culture in the country and such programmes are aimed to strengthen national solidarity, promote peace as well as spread harmony in the society, PNCA Director-General Iftikhar Hussain Babar said.
“Every life is valuable, however, the Quetta massacre is agonising due to the fact that many members of the intelligentsia having social acumen lost their lives,” said Singer Shahida Mini.
“What happened in Quetta is mourned by the entire country; nevertheless, we should not give a message to the terrorists that we are dead. Everyone should keep performing in one’s field and being artists we should continue to perform on stage,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2016.
Artists at a musical evening expressed their resolve against extremist mindset and terrorism.
A musical evening highlighting the importance of independence and focusing on conveying a message to the extremists concerning nation’s collective resolve against terrorism was held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), on Saturday.
The musical evening was titled “Shukria Pakistan”.
The programme revolved around the struggles and sacrifices made to achieve a separate homeland.
A wide array of artists performed including Muhammad Ali and Sonia Azeem from Islamabad, Bano Rehmat of Kashmiri descent, Shina Gul a native of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bashir Baloch a resident of Balochistan, Tufail Sanjarani from Sindh, and Shahida Mini from the Punjab.
Moreover, tributes were paid to martyrs who lost their lives in the fight against terrorism.
The event commenced 45 minutes late with families waiting for the VIPs to arrive.
“I do not know when the chief guests will arrive and the event will begin,” an attendee could be heard murmuring.
The other unfortunate feature was the weak attendance.
Later on, more families joined in the festivities as performances started.
Masood Khawaja and Saeed Anwar engaged the audience with satire.
Folk artists wait for the entire year to perform on such occasions, with their livelihoods depending on such performances, PNCA Performing Arts Director Tanveer Kiani said.
“They are our assets, which are dying and we have to keep them alive,” he further added.
Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar, who was the chief guest for the event, said “the show was a hit and we should give a positive message across that notwithstanding the challenges we are resilient and steadfast.”
The PNCA is working for the promotion of art and culture in the country and such programmes are aimed to strengthen national solidarity, promote peace as well as spread harmony in the society, PNCA Director-General Iftikhar Hussain Babar said.
“Every life is valuable, however, the Quetta massacre is agonising due to the fact that many members of the intelligentsia having social acumen lost their lives,” said Singer Shahida Mini.
“What happened in Quetta is mourned by the entire country; nevertheless, we should not give a message to the terrorists that we are dead. Everyone should keep performing in one’s field and being artists we should continue to perform on stage,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2016.