Two-day Jashan-e-Khushal concludes

NOWSHERA: A two-day festival to pay tributes to Pashto poet and scholar Khushal Khan Khattak concluded here on Sunday.

The Nowshera district government had organised the Jashan-e-Khushal at the Khushal Khattak Memorial Library Hall at Akora Khattak.

A large number of poets, literati and students from across the province attended the Jashan-e-Khushal.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony.

Pashto poets, writers and scholars including Saadullah Jan Barq, Prof Dr Iqbal Nasim Khattak, Prof Yar Muhammad Maghmom, Prof Abaseen Yousazai, Prof Sohail Khan, Prof Humayan Hamdard, Prof Ibrar Khattak, Muhammad Jan Jehangir, Zafar Farooq, Deputy Commissioner Sikandar Zeeshan, artistes Bakhtiar Khattak, Fayyaz Kheshgi, Hunmayun Khan and others attended the festival.

The scholars presented papers on the life, work and achievements of Khushal Khattak and his versatile personality.

They praised Khushal Khattak for his untiring efforts for the unity and renaissance of Pakhtuns.

Books of several writers, including ‘Teer hair awazoona, of Aslam Khan, Deway pa mazarrono, a poetry collection and Da Pakhtano tarikh yao loya almia of Saadullah Jan Barq were launched.

The participants later went to the mausoleum of Khushal Khan Khattak and placed floral wreath on the grave and offered fateha for his eternal peace.

Paying glowing tributes to Khushal Khan Khattak, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak praised the work of the great literary figure and said his poetry had great lessons of bravery, morality, courage and peace.

He also appreciated the organisers of the festival for their initiative and said: “When people with such spirit are present in society, great personalities such as Khushal Khan Khattak cannot be forgotten.” A series of sessions of poetry recital were held during the two-day event.