Rich tributes paid to late Lt-Gen Hamid Gul

PESHAWAR: Rich tributes were paid to the late director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General (Retd) Hamid Gul at a condolence reference here on Sunday. The Ideology of Pakistan Forum in collaboration with the Pakistan Thinkers Forum had organised the reference for the Pakistan Army general who passed away last month. The University of Peshawar’s former vice-chancellor Dr Abdul Mateen said Hamid Gul deserved to be remembered on the occasion of Pakistan Defence Day as it was the day of martyrs and Ghazis who rendered sacrifices for the motherland. He said Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Gul had the characteristics of a creative personality. “He was a critic of impressionism, expressionism and rhetoric and always challenged liberalism,” he opined. Dr Mateen added: “General Hamid Gul was a man of strong resolve and wanted Pakistan to become a model state on the pattern of the state of Madina.” He said Hamid Gul wanted re-glorification of Ummah through Shariah and was of the view that Pakistan cannot flourish through Western democracy. Prof Adnan Sarwar, dean faculty of Social Sciences, University of Peshawar, also lauded the services of the late general for the country and said he was a down-to-earth and a straightforward man and there was no confusion in his thoughts. He suggested preservation of his papers, speeches and writings in a book. Liaqat Ali Tabassum of the Thinkers Forum also paid rich tributes to Hamid Gul and said he had many qualities and was seeking glory of Islam and unity of the Ummah.