I am not an obit writer; nor do I aspire to become one. August was a month of poetic obituaries; it was a month when angel of death plucked out longstanding poetic trees in two different countries: first it was Mahmoud Darwish of Palestine, and now Ahmed Faraz of Pakistan who died on August 25 at the age of 77. If Darwish penned the pain of Occupied Palestine, Faraz mourned a militarist Pakistan. Both voices signified the poetry of protest which is the last refuge of Muse. Surprisingly both bore an uncannily pictorial resemblance.

The poetry of Darwish and Faraz reflected internal struggles within the Muslim world. Their sane and at times insane voices provided an alternative platform for love as well as lament.

For Faraz, Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq’s military rule was boon as well as bane. He was arrested and later had to leave Pakistan. It left him bitter but at the same time it gave him enough space to popularize ‘protest poetry’. As Faraz once said, “Yet it (military rule) also provided ample food for thought for the poet and made protest poetry so popular in Pakistan.”

Faraz was a limited man but with unlimited ambition. Although Faraz was a wearer of many hats; his poetry can be summed up in two nouns each beginning with R: Romance and Revolution. Teenagers took comfort in his couplets while aspiring revolutionaries quoted him at length to drive their point. His ghazal Sunaa hai log use aankh bhar ke dekhte hain was an international hit.

Faraz was not just a poet of romance and love; he was a poet of masses as well as mass hysteria – a syndrome which has consumed so much of Pakistan. His poetry gave voice to the suppressed souls of a depressed Pakistan. He spoke against the Partition as well:

Ab kis kaa jashn manaate ho us des kaa jo taqsiim huaa
Ab kis ke giit sunaate ho us tan-man kaa jo do-niim huaa

(taqsiim=divided; do-niim=cut in two)

He breathed life into the idea of romance in contemporary Urdu poetry. His romantic couplets may have sparked millions of romances all around the Urdu-knowing world but yet his writings failed to bring a revolution in his troubled homeland. Perhaps therein lies the irony of Ahmed Faraz.

He was a crusading poet who did not believe in the idea of crusade. He preferred verse over weapon. He never shied away from raising the standard of revolt against the Pakistani establishment. He was an asset to Pakistan but Pakistan government treated him like a liability. He was a dissenting poet disenchanted by his own military government. It is primarily for this reason that he went into a self-imposed exile for six years. He told people of Pakistan to dream because he believed that dreams do not die. In his poem titled Khvaab marate nahiin (Dreams do not die), he said:

Dreams are not hearts, nor eyes or breath
Which shattered, will scatter (or)
Die with the death of the body.
Dreams do not die.
Dreams are light, life, wind,
Which can not be stopped by mountains black,
Which do not burn in the hells of cruelty,
Like light and life and wind, they
Do not bow down even in graveyards.
Dreams are letters,
Dreams are illumination,
Dreams are Socrates,
Dreams are Mansur!

Faraz was a poet of official dislike and unofficial like. Pakistan of Pervez Musharraf tried to woo him with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2004. The trick did succeed initially. But the tricky success did not last. Faraz returned the award two years later because he was a man of conscience. He said, “My conscious will not forgive me if I remained a silent spectator of the sad happenings around us. The least I can do is to let the dictatorship know where it stands in the eyes of the concerned citizens whose fundamental rights have been usurped. I am doing this by returning the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (civil) forthwith and refuse to associate myself in any way with the regime…”

Faraz had compared his life to that of a candle.

Main bhi chup ho jaaunga bujhti hui shama’on ke saath…

(Shama’on = candles).

It will not be easy to forget Faraz. He will be remembered though he is not in our ‘mehfil’:

To laut kar bhi ahle-tamanna ko kush nahi
Main lut kar bhi wafa kay inhi kaaflon mein hoon
Badla na mayray baad bhi mozon-e-guftagu
Main jaa chuka phir bhi teri mehfilon mein hoon…

We have lost Faraz forever. In his own words:

Ab ke ham bichhde to shaayad kabhi khwaabon mein milen
Jis tarah sukhe hue phool kitaaboN mein milen

Those who know Urdu will understand the essence of the above verse because these lines will get derailed in English!

Born into a family with a centuries-long tradition of Qawwali singing, Khan began recording in the early ‘70s after ignoring his father’s wishes that he pursue medicine. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was considered as one of the greatest Qawwals in the world. Khan was a master of Qawwali singing, which combines lyrics from Sufi religious poems with hypnotic rhythms and vocal chants.

He never performed in English, he sang in Urdu, Punjabi and occasionally Persian. Khan also captivated many Westerners, including such musicians as Vedder, Joan Osborne and the late Jeff Buckley, as well as Hollywood types like Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.

Khan had made a great impression on the music scene with his mix of Eastern poetic music with that of the West. After traveling to London for treatment for liver and kidney problems, Khan was rushed from the airport to Cromwell Hospital, where he suffered a fatal heart attack. Khan departed from this sphere on the 16th of August 1997, and will be missed immensely by his fans all across the globe.-SANA

They said the void created by Qari Saifuddin’s death is difficult to fill in near future and prayed that Almighty Allah may accept his sincere and selfless efforts for Kashmiri Muslims. Qari Saifuddin who died in Srinagar on Sunday was former member of Kashmir’s legislative Assembly, noted Islamic scholar and founder member of Jammu and Kashmir Jammat-e- Islami.

Born in January 1, 1920, Qari was appointed as a school teacher after he obtained graduation degree from Punjab University Lahore. However he resigned the job and joined Jammat-i-Islam Jammu and Kashmir in 1957. Qari was jailed several times for his opposition to Indian occupation of Kashmir and Government’s anti people policies. He was elected MLA from Khanyar Constituency of Kashmir Assembly on the ticket of Jammat-i-Islami Jammu and Kashmir in 1972 and retired from politics in 1992.-SANA

Chairman Senate, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro and Deputy Chairman Senate, Mr. Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali have expressed their deep sense of grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Sangeen Wali Khan, Wali Khan breathed his last early this morning. In their separate messages of condolence to ANP Chief, Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan they prayed to Allah Almighty to shower His blessings on the departed soul and grant perseverance to the members of the bereaved family to bear the great loss with fortitude. They have also sympathized with the workers of the Awami National Party over this great loss.

Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education, Nawabzada Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti has expressed grief and shock over the sad demise of Sangeen Wali Khan. In a condolence message from USA, the Minister payed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and award courage to the bereave family and members/office bearers of Awami National Party and well wishers of the well known political family to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude. It is worth mentioning that the Minister is on a private visit to USA accompanying his ailing son for treatment there.

Federal Minister for Defence, Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar has expressed deep shock over the death of Sangeen Wali Khan, a younger brother of ANP Leader Asfand Yar Wali Khan. In his condolence message with the Asfand Yar Wali Khan and other members of the bereaved family, the Minister prayed to Almighty Allah to shower His eternal blessings on the departed soul and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

The leader of Muttahda Quomy Movement Altaf Hussain condoled over death of Sangeen Wali Khan releasing obituary message from London. He prayed for deceased and patience for his family.

The two remissions will be admissible provided the convicts have undergone 2/3rd of their substantive sentence of imprisonment. Total remission has been given to male prisoners who are 65 years of age or above and have undergone at least 1/3rd of their substantive sentence of imprisonment, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts. Total remission has also been given to female prisoners who are 60 years of age or above and have undergone at least 1/3rd of their sentence of imprisonment, except those involved in culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts.

Special remission of one year will be given to female prisoners who have accompanying children and are serving sentence of imprisonment for crimes other than culpable homicide and those involved in terrorist acts. Total remission has been given to juvenile convicts (under 18 years of age) who have served 1/3 of their substantive sentence except those involved in culpable homicide, terrorist acts, as defined in the Anti Terrorism (Second Sec. 10 offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ord. 1979.

On the eve of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s birth anniversary, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has named Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad as a mark of respect and reverence for the martyred leader and in recognition of her unparalleled services for the nation and the cause of democracy. The Prime Minister has also named General Hospital, Rawalpindi as Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi and Murree Road as Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Road. The Prime Minister has also decided to build a monument at the site in Rawalpindi where Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. The design of this monument will be selected through open international competition.-SANA

And here are the lyrics. Perhaps they elicit something large and loving in the world that all people have in common.
But please do just one thing… Please do sing along and please do sing it loud:

“The Preacher and the Slave”

Long-haired preachers come out every night,
Try to tell you what’s wrong and what’s right;
But when asked how ’bout something to eat
They will answer in voices so sweet

You will eat, bye and bye,
In that glorious land above the sky;
Work and pray, live on hay,
You’ll get pie in the sky when you die

And the Starvation Army they play,
And they sing and they clap and they pray,
Till they get all your coin on the drum,
Then they tell you when you’re on the bum

Holy Rollers and Jumpers come out
And they holler, they jump and they shout
Give your money to Jesus, they say,
He will cure all diseases today

If you fight hard for children and wife-
Try to get something good in this life-
You’re a sinner and bad man, they tell,
When you die you will sure go to hell.

Workingmen of all countries, unite
Side by side we for freedom will fight
When the world and its wealth we have gained
To the grafters we’ll sing this refrain

You will eat, bye and bye,
When you’ve learned how to cook and how to fry;
Chop some wood, ’twill do you good
Then you’ll eat in the sweet bye and bye

The chorus is sung in a call and response pattern.

You will eat [You will eat] bye and bye [bye and bye]
In that glorious land above the sky [Way up high]
Work and pray [Work and pray] live on hay [live on hay]
You’ll get pie in the sky when you die [That's a lie!]

Thus the final verse becomes

You will eat [You will eat] bye and bye [bye and bye]
When you’ve learned how to cook and how to fry [How to fry]
Chop some wood [Chop some wood], ’twill do you good [do you good]
Then you’ll eat in the sweet bye and bye [That's no lie]

…

She said that Kuwait under his guidance achieved the strength that was envied by many countries of the World. She said the personality of late Amir played vital role in the politics of Middle East that would be remembered in the annals of history. She said that his death created a vacuum that is difficult to be filled. “It is an irreparable loss to Kuwait as well as Pakistan”. The message said. The Speaker prayed that May Almighty Allah rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and to the bereaved family and people of Kuwait to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude and equanimity (Aameen).-SANA

The message said that Nirmala Deshpande stood for close interaction between Parliaments of the two countries and her contribution for better relationship between India and Pakistan was tremendous. The message said that she was the torchbearer of peace and friendship between countries of the region. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker and that Nirmala Deshpande has left indelible marks on the landscape of Indian Parliament and legislation, “Her death is an irreparable loss to India as well as Pakistan”, the massage said.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker said the Nirmala Deshpande has created a vacuum that is difficult to be filled. “She will be remembered in the annals of history for a long time to come” the message said. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker said that they were grieved over her death and also expressed sympathy with the bereaved family.-SANA

Gandhian peace activist Nirmala Deshpande, known to her countless friends in Pakistan and elsewhere as Didi, elder sister, died in her sleep early on Thursday. She was 79. “Nirmala Didi was a dedicated peace activist who worked selflessly for good relations between Pakistan and India,” Pakistan’s High Commissioner Shahid Malik said in a condolence message. A wreath on his behalf was displayed most prominently at the coffin where dignitaries led by President Pratibha Patil paid their respects.

The meeting between the Advisor on Interior and visiting British Home Secretary was followed by a meeting between the two delegates which besides Syed Kamal Shah, Secretary Interior, H.E. Mr. Robert Brinkley, British High Commissioner, Mr. Imtiaz Kazi, Additional Secretary, Mr. Zafeer Abbasi, Additional Secretary, Mr. Tariq Pervaiz, D.G., FIA and Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, DG,NPB was attended by the high officials of Ministry of Interior. The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior expressed his sympathy for Police Liaison Officer of British High Commission who got injured in terrorist attack in a restaurant in Islamabad.

The two sides discussed matters of mutual interest and reviewed the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of mutual interest. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the mutual cooperation and undertook to further enhance this cooperation. The British Home Secretary extended invitation to the Advisor to the Prime Minister to visit UK.

Separate camps have been set up to accommodate the leaders and workers from all over the country. Reception camps have also been established to receive the party leaders and workers.
The Pakistan Peoples Party has finalized all the arrangements to mark the day. The anniversary functions have started from Thursday evening which will continue till Friday. A public meeting has also been organized in Larkana which would be addressed by the Co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari and the party’s central leaders.

A documentary depicting various aspects of the life and achievements of Zulifqar Ali Bhutto would also be shown on the occasion. Meanwhile, people in very large number from all the four provinces on Thursday visited the Mazar of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. Prominent among those who visited the mazar of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto include the PPP Senior Vice Chairman Makhddom Amin Fahim, Speaker National Assembly, Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Federal Ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Farooq H. Naek and party spokesman Farhatullah Babar.-SANA

PPP workers gathered at the site of hanging, now turned into a lush green park called Jinnah Park, after offering recital. Local PPP leaders Zamarrud Khan, Amir Fida Paracha, Qazi Sultan and others also addressed the gathering and highlighted services of the Bhutto family to the country.

PPP workers demanded re-construction of the memoriam of demolished prison cell where ZAB was kept and eventually hanged. The workers also demanded that a memoriam be constructed at Liaquat Bagh and Rawalpindi General Hospital be named after Benazir Bhutto’s name.-SANA

His Namaz-i-Janaza was attended by former president and prime minister of AJK Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan, AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Speaker AJK Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir, AJK ministers, Chief Justice AJK Supreme Court Riaz Akhtar Chaudhry, President PPP AK Ch Abdul Majeed, Sardar Khalid Ibrahim, Ch Latif Akbar, Ch Pervez Ashraf, Tahir Khokhar, Liberation Front chief Amanullah Khan, former Amir of JI AK Abdul Rashid Turabi and hundreds of people belonging to all walks of life.

Addressing the people on the occasion, the AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed said that killers of Muhammad Ali Chacha would be taken to task. He said two killers had been arrested and efforts were on to arrest the others. Paying glowing tributes to Muhammad Ali Chacha, he said he was a great leader who spent his life in the service of law and justice. He said his services in the field of law and justice would be remembered for long.

He praised lawyers for their decision not to appear for the killers of Muhammd Ali Chacha. He announced Rs 300,000 for the citizen who was injured while helping to apprehend killers of Muhammad Ali Chacha and Rs 100,000 each for others who extended help. He also announced to give award to these citizens. Addressing on the occasion Chief Justice AJK Supreme Court hoped that the high court would sentence the killers within 40 days under a law which he made when he was chief justice of high court.-SANA

Ikramullah Khan Niazi was later laid to rest in the ancestral graveyard in Mianwali. The 85 years old Ikramullah Niazi was seriously ill for the last two months and was shifted the ICU ward of Shaukat Khunam Memorial Trust Hospital, where he breathed his last the other day. Political leaders including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and MQM Chief Altaf Hussain expressed deep grief over the sad demise of Imran Khan’s father.

US, UK, France condemns Bhutto’s assassination
ISLAMABAD: World leaders across the globe including United States, United Kingdom, and France strongly condemned the killing of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

The US State Department official said, “The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan.”

France also condemned the assassination, describing it as an “odious act”. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, in a statement said that he express his deep emotion following the attack which has cost the life of Benazir Bhutto, whom he knew personally. He condoled with the Bhutto’s family, to the victims of the attack and to the Pakistani people. He strongly condemned this odious act and saluted the memory of Ms Bhutto as an eminent figure in Pakistani politics.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was deeply shocked by the death of Ms Bhutto and called for restraint. He said, “In targeting Benazir Bhutto, extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan. They cannot and must not succeed.”-SANA