Peace concert: Multinational singers, bands enthrall students

Local performers get their first chance to perform from IHRC’s platform.

ISLAMABAD:

For many teenagers, going to a musical concert is the perfect way to end the week.

As celebrities from Lebanon, Turkey and Pakistan managed to pull a magnificent night off, thrilled students refused to go home even past midnight.

The event was attended by Qayyas and Shoaib Ali khan, Viviane Murd and Ersin Faikzade as ambassadors of Pakistan, Lebanon and Turkey respectively.

This was the first time Pakistan, through its musicians, was given a chance to represent itself by IHRC out of its 130 member countries.

Casually dressed, students flocked through the gates as the sun went down and while some remained seated, others were too excited to sit still. To give the night a jump start, Faisal Mushtaq, CEO of Roots Millennium Schools invited students to flaunt their dancing skills till the show’s opening.

The evening took off after Sultanul Qadri, the band whose music in the latest Pakistani flick “Waar” have seemingly given a new dimension to Sufi music, made an entrance. With a touch of their own music, traditional songs, including “Yaar daddi” and “Dama dam mast Qalander”, encouraged students to hit the dance floor.

While some enthusiastic youngsters did not get off it for a moment, others lingered around, eating snacks and recharging themselves for the performers up next.

Groups scattered around the campus came rushing towards the stage as soon as Roots very own Shoaib Ali Khan started performing his bhangra hit Oh Soniyeh. And just as gave the event a new sense of energy, Ersin Faikzade of Ishq-e-mamnoh’s title song fame, dressed in a velvet cloak, entered like a sultan. With their cellphones out, many did not let go of the only probable chance to record his Turkish and Persian inspired beats.

Lebanese singer, Viviane Murd, in a glittering dress and with powerful voice took the audience to a whole new level before Qayyas finally put an end to the saga with their power-packed performance till the last minute.

“Qayaas is what I was waiting for all night. Their music somehow re-energises you and the same time you shed some while cheering the band” said another student, Mohammad Mehmood.

The event was organised by Roots College International Millennium Flagship Campus in collaboration with the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC). The concert’s objective was to institutionalise Peace Day and to support people affected in Balochistan whilst sharing the ethical principles of the world’s spiritual traditions, IHRC’s goodwill ambassadors who represent religious, racial, and ethnic diversity are committed to promoting reconciliation, overcoming barriers, encouraging equitable distribution of resources, and building peace.

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