Nelson Mandela: ‘Finest son of humanity’ celebrated
‘Those who admire Mandela must also work towards bringing real democracy to Pakistan’.
‘Those who admire Mandela must also work towards bringing real democracy to Pakistan’. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The services and struggles of the late former South African president Nelson Mandela were eulogised in various events on Tuesday.
Members of the Anjuman Mazareen Punjab gathered for a candle vigil in front of the Press Club. They carried placards and demanded the government take immediate steps to ensure land property rights and justice.
The Umeed-e-Saher Foundation also held a seminar marking the Human Rights Day where the speakers paid tribute to Mandela’s efforts to promote global justice and peace.
“Mandela was a symbol of struggle against those who believed in the divide and rule policy that they had adopted from the Roman imperialists,” Writer Lal Khan said at a reference held at the SAFMA auditorium on Tuesday to celebrate the struggle of the late former South Africa president Nelson Mandela.
The participants were shown a documentary on the life and struggles of Nelson Mandela.
Writer Wajahat Masood said, “We are here to celebrate one of the best sons humanity has produced.” Mandela wanted equal rights for people regardless of religion, caste, creed and ethnicity, he said.
Masood said the message one got from Mandela’s struggle was that the fight for freedom and justice cannot be fought with guarantees.
Masood those in Pakistan who admire Mandela must also work to achieve real democracy in Pakistan, he said.”Real democracy is when decision making and legislation is carried out by public representatives,” said Masood.
“Mandela was not anti-imperialist, in fact he made peace with the imperialists to end the apartheid in his country,” former caretaker information minister Arif Nizami said.
He said that Mandela held no bitterness towards those he had fought for decades. “I witnessed the same qualities in Benazir Bhutto,” he said.
Nizami said Benazir and Zardari’s governments had been inspired by Mandela’s policy of reconciliation. “The present government, on the other hand, believes that reconciliation is the same as laying down weapons in front of the Taliban and not taking action against the terrorists in North Waziristan,” he said.
He said Mandela was a great admirer of Princess Diana and Nawaz Sharif.
Mandela was the only political figure who, during 60 years of his political struggle, spent 27 years in prison, he said.
Mandela was the first black president of South Africa. He fought against racial oppression and apartheid and spent 27 years of his life in prison. He breathed his last on December 5 and died at the age of 95.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2013.
The services and struggles of the late former South African president Nelson Mandela were eulogised in various events on Tuesday.
Members of the Anjuman Mazareen Punjab gathered for a candle vigil in front of the Press Club. They carried placards and demanded the government take immediate steps to ensure land property rights and justice.
The Umeed-e-Saher Foundation also held a seminar marking the Human Rights Day where the speakers paid tribute to Mandela’s efforts to promote global justice and peace.
“Mandela was a symbol of struggle against those who believed in the divide and rule policy that they had adopted from the Roman imperialists,” Writer Lal Khan said at a reference held at the SAFMA auditorium on Tuesday to celebrate the struggle of the late former South Africa president Nelson Mandela.
The participants were shown a documentary on the life and struggles of Nelson Mandela.
Writer Wajahat Masood said, “We are here to celebrate one of the best sons humanity has produced.” Mandela wanted equal rights for people regardless of religion, caste, creed and ethnicity, he said.
Masood said the message one got from Mandela’s struggle was that the fight for freedom and justice cannot be fought with guarantees.
Masood those in Pakistan who admire Mandela must also work to achieve real democracy in Pakistan, he said.”Real democracy is when decision making and legislation is carried out by public representatives,” said Masood.
“Mandela was not anti-imperialist, in fact he made peace with the imperialists to end the apartheid in his country,” former caretaker information minister Arif Nizami said.
He said that Mandela held no bitterness towards those he had fought for decades. “I witnessed the same qualities in Benazir Bhutto,” he said.
Nizami said Benazir and Zardari’s governments had been inspired by Mandela’s policy of reconciliation. “The present government, on the other hand, believes that reconciliation is the same as laying down weapons in front of the Taliban and not taking action against the terrorists in North Waziristan,” he said.
He said Mandela was a great admirer of Princess Diana and Nawaz Sharif.
Mandela was the only political figure who, during 60 years of his political struggle, spent 27 years in prison, he said.
Mandela was the first black president of South Africa. He fought against racial oppression and apartheid and spent 27 years of his life in prison. He breathed his last on December 5 and died at the age of 95.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2013.