New year’s celebrations: Concert lifts spirits of the capital’s slum dwellers

Musical performances and pledges of solidarity colour the event.

ISLAMABAD: Music and cheer lifted from France Colony as residents gathered under a tent to celebrate the new year on Tuesday night. Men, women and children braved the cold weather as they remained glued to their seats, swaying to the music.

Amidst hoots and claps, Faham the band, Mobeen and Rizwan a classical duo, Harris Bazmi, Harry Hameed, Hashim and a rap group known as “Rapping criminals” warmed up the night. The show gathered momentum with the appearance of Sufi artist Arieb Azhar who has received acclaim through this Coke Studio renditions.

The event provided a musical retreat to the residents of France Colony. PHOTO:  MYRA IQBAL/EXPRESS

The crowd spilled outside of the tent and many stood in the back for lack of seating space, their animated silhouettes glowing red and green from the fluorescent lighting. “No matter what goes on in Pakistan, the music will never stop,” Ahzar croaked on the microphone before strumming the first track on his guitar to an ecstatic audience.



Asim Sajjad, member of the Pakistan Workers Party (PWP), expressed solidarity with the Christian minority dwelling within the slum colony in F-7/4. Speaking about blasphemy laws, Sajjad blamed the law for encroaching upon the rights of citizens and incited the crowd to stand up against bigotry and hatred based on race and religion.  The event was organised by the PWP.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2013.