Brussels,(Parliament Times): Chairman of the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU), Ali Raza Syed, stated that the great intellectuals like the late Khalid Hameed Farooqi play vital role in highlighting human rights through their knowledge and wisdom. He emphasized that compassionate and brave writers and thinkers hold great importance in awakening nations in their struggles for freedom.
He was addressing the main ceremony of the “Khalid Hameed Farooqi Memorial Festival” held in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, in memory of the renowned European Pakistani journalist and intellectual, the late Khalid Hameed Farooqi. Ali Raza Syed said that the life of the late Khalid Farooqi was dedicated to the struggle for truth and justice, and to the rights of oppressed communities.
The annual festival was organized jointly by the Pakistan Press Club Belgium and the Kashmir Council Europe (KCEU), and was attended by a large number of distinguished personalities, intellectuals, poets, and individuals from political and social spheres from different European countries including Belgium, France, Germany and UK. Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed thanked all participants and especially welcomed Ms. Tahira Habib Jalib, daughter of the late revolutionary poet Habib Jalib, who particularly traveled from Pakistan to attend the festival.
Speaking about his relationship with late Khalid Farooqi, Ali Raza Syed said that he had the privilege of knowing him for more than twenty years, describing him as a great friend and a sincere advisor. He praised Khalid Farooqi’s truthfulness, integrity, and his struggle for the oppressed people, and paid tribute to his contributions. He added that Khalid Farooqi played a particularly important role in highlighting the Kashmir issue and the human rights of Kashmiris in Europe, and that his support for the Kashmir Council Europe would always be remembered. He prayed that the Almighty Allah grants the late Khalid Farooqi high rank in paradise.
In the second session of the festival, a book launch by writer Safdar Zaidi and a poetry session were also held. The Life Achievement Award was presented to renowned Pakistani journalist and writer Mujahid Hussain, which was received on his behalf by journalist Uneeb Rashid due to his absence. The program was moderated by Chaudhry Imran Saqib, the president of Pakistan Press Club Belgium while Sardar Siddique, the senior Kashmiri leader and Nadeem Butt, secretary of the Pakistan press club were among the hosts.
Other speakers at the main ceremony included Aamir Butt, Akram Qaim Khanani, Ameen ul Haque, Shiraz Raaj, and Uneeb Rashid. Mujahid Hussain, the writer, participated in the program through their video message.
A short documentary on Khalid Farooqi was also presented, along with a video message from his sister, Ms. Samar Farooqi. The song “Pakistan Javey Pakistan” was also performed during the event. In the poetry session, chief guest Tahira Habib Jalib presented the revolutionary poetry of Habib Jalib. Other poets included Yashab Tamanna, Adeel Shakir, Mudabbir Aasan, Shahjahan Salib, Shiraz Raaj, Farah Deeba, Sagheer Anwar Wattoo, and Hur Hasnain.
A particularly emotional moment occurred when Tahira Habib Jalib recited her father’s famous verse:
“Aisy dastoor ko main nahi manta, main nahi janta,” (Such a constitution, such a dawn without light, I refuse to accept, I refuse to acknowledge) which received great appreciation from the audience.