Syed Fasih Iqbal was a highly patriotic , selfless politician, and prolific journalist

Lahore: Late Syed Fasih Iqbal was a highly amiable and amicable person, patriotic and selfless politician, and prolific journalist.

These views were expressed by the speaker at a special sitting jointly arranged by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust and the Pakistan Movement Workers Trust at the Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan, Lahore, in order to present a condolence referendum for syed Fasih Iqbal, Editor-in-Chief of the daily “Zamana” and “The Balochistan Times”.

“The Nation” Editor-in-Chief and Nazaria-i-Pakistan Chairman Dr. Majid Nizami chaired the event while Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Secretary Shahid Rashid conducted the proceedings.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Dr. Majid Nizami, Professor Dr. Rafique Ahmad, former Deputy Speaker National Assembly Sardar Wazir Ahmad Jogizai, former Shariah Court Chief Justice Mian Mehboob Ahmad, eminent political leader Chaudhry Naeem Hussain Chatha, Major Genral (r) Raha Latif, famous columnist and intellectual Dr. Ajmal Niazi and educationist Adeeb Jawedani. Nazaria-i-Pakistan Chief Co-ordinator Mian Farooq Altaf and Begum Majida Wyne were also present besides a large number of students, teachers and people from different walks of life.

Dr. Majid Nizami referred to the deceased as his ‘friend’ and ‘brother’ who made a point of making a visit to him whenever he visited Lahore. He was a true devotee of the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and combined in himself numerous worth-emulating qualities, Dr. Majid Nizami remarked.

Professor Dr. Rafique Ahmad remarked that late Fasih Iqbal was a true patriot who made all-out efforts to defend the rights of the Baluchi people who, he was convinced, were patriotic Pakistanis.

Sardar Wazir Ahmad Jogizai observed that he enjoyed a 50-year companionship with late Fasih Iqbal, a better and warmer host than whom he was yet to see. One of his greatest achievements was to write up the Baloch history and make it part of the curriculum. Sardar Sahib demanded that a road, library or university be named after late Fasih Iqbal.

Chaudhry Naeem Hussain Chatha observed that the deceased was a paragon of numerous rare qualities. His sincerity, his empathy, his love for the homeland and compatriots was almost infectious. All Pakistan must strive to be affected by such positive, constructive and humanitarian feelings and emotions.

Major General (r) Rahat Latif dwelt on the deceased’s trait of patriotism, which could not be appreciated enough. He observed that we had to start from the scratch, and now we’ve got our ordnance factory manufacturing tanks and even aircraft. The sky is the limit, he said, provided that we get right kind of leadership.

Mian Mehboob Ahmad profusely praised the deceased for his humanitarian qualities. We must try to follow in the footsteps of those who struggle to root out ignorance and spread the light of knowledge, he remarked.

Eminent Columnist Dr. Ajmal Niazi stressed the need to keep the spirit of our childhood intact till the end. As child, one is surely closest to Allah and, thus an inhabitant of Paradise. He prayed that Allah may bless us with purposeful lives.