Rabbani suggests highest civil award for Manto
Paying respect to literary figures could help improve the situation in the country, says Senator Rabbani.
ISLAMABAD:
To acknowledge his literary services, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani suggested President Asif Ali Zardari to confer the highest civil award upon prominent short-storywriter late Saadat Hassan Manto.
"The 100th birth anniversary of Manto was observed today. For his literary works, he had not only earned fame within Pakistan but also in international community," Rabbani said while speaking on a point of order.
In times of chaos and polarisation, Rabbani said that paying respect to literary figures could help improve the situation.
Rabbani recalled that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had established the Pakistan Academy of Letters that had been patronising literary figures however, its role has diminished recently.
The senator further said that the intellectual renaissance that started during Bhutto's period, was needed today.
Rabbani added that a lot of people have been awarded in the past, though some of them did not deserve it. But Manto, he said, has not been honoured with such an award despite his remarkable literary services.
He further requested Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari to forward his suggestion to the President.
Later, Leader of the House Jahangir Badar was asked to consider the proposal, who also supported the idea.
To acknowledge his literary services, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani suggested President Asif Ali Zardari to confer the highest civil award upon prominent short-storywriter late Saadat Hassan Manto.
"The 100th birth anniversary of Manto was observed today. For his literary works, he had not only earned fame within Pakistan but also in international community," Rabbani said while speaking on a point of order.
In times of chaos and polarisation, Rabbani said that paying respect to literary figures could help improve the situation.
Rabbani recalled that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had established the Pakistan Academy of Letters that had been patronising literary figures however, its role has diminished recently.
The senator further said that the intellectual renaissance that started during Bhutto's period, was needed today.
Rabbani added that a lot of people have been awarded in the past, though some of them did not deserve it. But Manto, he said, has not been honoured with such an award despite his remarkable literary services.
He further requested Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari to forward his suggestion to the President.
Later, Leader of the House Jahangir Badar was asked to consider the proposal, who also supported the idea.