"Writers are custodians of the ideological frontiers of the country. Poets played key role in the freedom movement by awakening the Muslims of the subcontinent from deep slumber through their meaningful poems."
Prominent poet, writer and intellectual Professor Dawar Khan Daud said in his presidential address at Urdu, Pashto and Hindko Mushaira, held in connection with the Independence Day celebrations. Pakistan Academy of Letters Peshawar Chapter arranged it at Imam Khomeini Hall of the Iranian Cultural Center in Peshawar Cantt on Thursday evening.
Dawar said poets and writers actively participated in the Pakistan Movement along with other Muslims of the region.
The chief guests Abdur Rauf Zahid, the Pushto poet, and Urdu poet Bushra Farrukh, in their addresses said, 'independence is a great blessing of Allah Almighty that must be valued and realised.' They asked the writers to utilise their creative minds and visions to guide the new generation on right direction.
Senior journalist and an active worker of the Pakistan Movement Iqbal Riaz in his paper on the occasion said Pakistan was the fruit of continuous and tireless efforts, sacrifices of the Muslims of the subcontinent to have a sovereign homeland of their own.
Said Wali Khyal Mohmand, Resident Director of the Pakistan Academy of Letters Peshawar highlighted the importance of the Independence Day and contributions of his organisation for promotion of the ideology of Pakistan through literary works.
Poets also recited their verses in Urdu, Hindko and Pashto to mark the day. They included Dr Iqbal Naseem Khattak, Murtaza Khan Shaheen, Sabir Hussain Imdad, Dr Fazal Din Khattak, Yousuf Raja Chishti, Qamar Zaman Qamar Taizai, Aslam Tariq and Ikramullah Gran.