I have yet to write 14th August: Anwer Maqsood

ACP holds colourful event to mark 75th Independence Day

KARACHI:

Renowned writer satirist Anwer Maqsood has said that he was still waiting to write 14 August, though he has written Poney 14 August, Sawa 14 August, and the latest drama of the series Sarhay 14 August.

He was speaking at a colourful event 'Arz-e-Pak' was organised jointly by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi and the Department of Culture, Sindh, on the occasion of Pakistan's 75th Independence Day at the Ahmed Shah Building Studio One.

"I came to Pakistan in 1948 singing, 'we gained independence in a way that the whole world was surprised' today I say, 'I am surprised why we gained independence," Maqsood said addressing a gathering that include Minister of Education and Culture Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Minister of Labour and Manpower Saeed Ghani, ACP President Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Parliamentary Secretary Qasim Soomro and Ejaz Farooqui and a large number of prominent personalities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Anwar Maqsood said, today is the 75th anniversary of Pakistan. Freedom is a blessing. Seventy-five years is a long time to develop a country. I wrote 'Poney 14th August', 'Sawa 14 August' and now 'Sarhe 14 August' but I did not write 14th August because I am still waiting for it."

He said that he was saddened to note that every passing year is worst that the previous one.

In a subliminal remark to the morass the country was in, the Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah said that today Pakistan has reached here after a journey of 75 years. "It took a long time to give the provinces their due rights. Federal democracy will not be strong unless the provinces are autonomous."

ACP President Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that today is a great day for Pakistan as Pakistan has completed seventy five years of journey and this journey will continue.

On the occasion, Humira Chana, Faheem Allan Faqir, Muhammad Ali, Muneeb Sheikh, Huma Kausar, Sidra Kanwal, Farhan Ali, Shahzeb Ali, Sonia Ali, Nauman Sheikh, Ameer Ali, Kamran Sagu, Naveen Mushtaq, Muhammad Zubair, Jambers Band, Ejaz Ali and Salman Ahmed enthralled the audience with their superb performance.

Later, awards and prizes were given to the winning artists who participated in the photo exhibition.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2022.