Karachi: The Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi (District East) hosted a monthly Mushaira in honor of the eminent poets Mohsin Naqvi, Meeraji, Qamar Jameel, and Taj Baloch. The event took place at Iktara Hall, Aiwan-e-Josh, and was led by the esteemed poetess Zehra Nigah.
Numerous poets took the stage to recite their ghazals and nazms, garnering enthusiastic applause from those in attendance. The list of poets included Dr. Fatima Hassan, Ambareen Haseeb Ambar, Tanveer Anjum, Afzal Ahmed Syed, Rukhsana Saba, Shadab Ehsani, Rashid Noor, Parveen Haider, Rehana Ehsan, Waheed Noor, Amar Peerzado, and Firasat Rizvi. Shakeel Khan moderated the session.
The Mushaira was organized to commemorate the birthdays of the celebrated poets. Zehra Nigah emphasized the significance of acknowledging poets during their lifetime, citing Josh Malihabadi as an example of a poet who received recognition while alive. She praised Josh for his dedication to language and shared anecdotes about his life and decisions, including his move to Pakistan.
Dr. Fatima Hassan announced that, under the leadership of the Arts Council’s President Mohammad Ahmed Shah, such Mushairas will be a regular occurrence at District East. Ambareen Haseeb Ambar expressed gratitude for presenting her work under Nigah’s presidency and captivated the audience with her poem “Al-Ameen.”
The evening also featured participation from students of Urdu University, such as Adeeb Hadi and Shazia Alam Shazi, who shared their poetic compositions with the audience. As a gesture of appreciation, President Mohammad Ahmed Shah presented flowers to Zehra Nigah.