63rd death anniversary: glowing tribute paid to Baba-e-Urdu

63 death anniversary of Baba-e-Urdu Moulvi Abdul Haq was observed here on Saturday. Speaking at a function held at the old office of the Anjuman Traqqi-e- Urdu after laying floral wreath at his grave, Administrator Karachi Rauf Akhtar Farooqui called for inducting youth in the Anjuman so that they could carry forward the mission of promoting Urdu as national and official language of the country.
Recalling the services of late Moulvi Abdul Haq for the cause of Urdu he paid glowing tribute to him and said late Moulvi Abdul Haq rendered invaluable services for promoting Urdu language in the sub continent. However, no progress in this regard was seen after his death.
Vice Chancellor Urdu University and Chairman Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu Dr Zafar Iqbal speaking on the occasion said that "observing the death Anniversary of Baba-e-Urdu amounted to motivating ourselves for his cause. He recalled that the then President Ayub Khan had provided land for Anjuman-Taraqqi-e-Urdu at Baba-e-Urdu road, however the land for the Gulshan-e-Iqbal campus was purchased by Baba-e-Urdu himself from his own pocket which now houses Urdu University.
Dr Zafar also lauded the services of Jamil-ud-din Aali for the Anjuman and said he offered his services at a time when the Anjuman needed it the most. He announced to name the Anjuman library after his name. He further said that the Anjuman needed commitment rather than money and added that together they all have to work for its cause. Eminent scholar and writer Jameeluddin Aali addressing the audience said that he joined Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu at the behest of no other than Baba-e-Urdu himself and continuing this association till date.
He said Moulvi Abdul Haq had asked him to work for setting up of Urdu university and his dream was translated into reality. The university now needed further extension and development, he maintained. Another eminent writer Aftab Ahmed Khan speaking on the occasion said Urdu is one of the great languages of the world and no one can deny its vastness. He recalled that Urdu had played unforgettable role for the Muslims of the sub-continent and for the creation of Pakistan. Other speakers also called for taking steps to make the Urdu language as the official and national language as Quaid-i-Azam had also declared Urdu as the national language of the country.