Pak-Afghan relations span centuries: Jhagra 

Function held to honour Khayal Muhammad; Pashto
music maestro to get Afghanistan’s highest civil award

PESHAWAR: Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on Tuesday said the Pak-Afghan relations were centuries-old and remained strong due to shared values. 

He was addressing as chief guest a ceremony titled “Da Aman Khayal” held under the aegis of Pak-Afghan Journalists Peace Forum at the Nishtar Hall.The Governor paid rich tributes to renowned Pashto singer Khiyal Muhammad.

The ceremony was also attended by Peshawar-based Afghan Consul General Abdullah Waheed Poyan, artistes, poets, scholars and journalists.The Governor said the Afghan refugees were our guests and the government was doing its best to ensure their repatriation with honour and dignity.

He said the role of writers, poets, scholars and journalists was considered important in ensuring constructive changes and better development.The Governor appreciated the contribution of Khiyal Muhammad towards promotion of art and culture. He said he had known the famous singer since his student life and liked his songs very much. 

Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said Khiyal Muhammad enjoyed similar status in Pashto ghazal singing like that of Mehdi Hassan in Urdu music and Nashanas in Afghanistan.“Khiyal Muhammad introduced new trends in Pashto ghazal singing,” he noted.

The Governor lauded the Pak-Afghan Journalists Peace Forum for arranging such a programme to honour Khiyal Muhammad. He said he wanted to watch the show, but had to leave to attend the funeral prayer for an army officer.

Senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Member Provincial Assembly Amjad Afridi were also present at the function. Khiyal Muhammad was crowned in recognition of his contribution to Pashto music. 

In his address, Afghan Consul General Abdullah Waheed Poyan, who presided over the function, paid rich tributes to Khiyal Muhammad and said artistes were messengers of peace. Reading out a message of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the diplomat announced Afghanistan’s highest civil award “Meer Bacha Khan Award” for Khiyal Muhammad.

He said the Afghans were proud of the legendary singer who contributed a lot to the Pashto music and culture. He announced holding a function at the Afghan consulate in Peshawar in Khiyal Muhammad’s honour. He said the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan shared common religion, language, culture and history. 

Earlier, senior journalist Sailab Mehsud welcomed the guests on behalf of the Pak-Afghan Journalists Peace Forum. He said the people across the border were bound through several bonds.

He said such functions would also be held in Kabul to strengthen the religious, cultural and linguistic bonds between the two neighbouring countries.While paying tributes to Khiyal Muhammad, journalist Farooq Firaq said the legendary artiste who belonged to the Afridi tribe of Khyber Agency had been singing since childhood and rose to fame due to the proper guidance of late Rafiq Shinwari. He said that Khiyal Muhammad’s father and elder brother were also noted artistes. 

He said Khiyal Muhammad was an uncontroversial figure and that is why the forum decided to mark “Khiyal Muhammad Week”. Farooq Firaq said the civil society and artistes extended full help and support to them to hold the event. 

He said Khiyal Muhammad’s popularity could be gauged from the fact that the week was marked in 19 countries in the world. A documentary on Khiyal Muhammad was also played on the occasion.A music show was also arranged with the help of a private Pashto channel.Noted compere Jamshed Ali Khan and singer Bakhtiar Khattak conducted the proceedings of the function.