PR No.117 Islamabad

President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday has said that Pakistani writers and scholars have important role in presenting a national counter narrative to defeat extremist views so that the new generation could be prevented from negative tendencies.

The President expressed these views while addressing the book launching ceremony: “The Pictorial Biography of Living Legend; Ata Ul Haq Qasmi” here in Islamabad on Thursday. Advisor to PM, Irfan Siddiqi, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, writers, poets, and intellectuals also addressed the ceremony. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb was also present on the occasion.

The President said that the world is transforming and Pakistani society is also feeling its impact adding that whenever such a situation arises then literary segment of the society guide the nation towards right direction. He stated that it is the need of the hour that intellectuals and writers should play their role. About the pictorial biography of Ata Ul Haq Qasmi, the President said biographies and auto-biographies were the best means of training of people and readers, who come to know about the life and experiences of literary personalities through such books.   “I think that films and dramas should also be made on the lives of poets and writers,” he remarked.

The President said sometime it has been observed that some writers show lack of concern for national issues whereas this trend is discouraged in international literature.  He stated in the past great writers and poets discharged their responsibilities in every difficult hour and national movement but in the last few decades no attention has been paid to this end in Pakistan.  He hoped that writers and intellectuals will guide the nation. “When we look at history, from Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to Allama Iqbal, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Faiz and Jalib, there is a galaxy of great poets and writers, who fulfilled their responsibilities in every national movement and at difficult times,” he remarked.

The President lauded the literary role and services of Ata Ul Qasmi in Pakistani literature.

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