LAKKI MARWAT: Poets from across the district highlighted the importance of peace, love and Pakhtun traditions through their poems at a literary session here on Wednesday.

The Pashto poetry recitation session was organised by district administration at deputy commissioner’s compound.

Deputy Commissioner Fahad Wazir, the additional deputy commissioner, Sikandar Khan, the assistant commissioner, Yasir Nazir, the additional assistant commissioner, Sultan Nooruddin Ahmer, and the district youth officer, Irshadullah, also attended the session.

Senior poet Anwar Khan Begukhel presided over the event while Nadir Khan Aleel performed as stage secretary. Young poets and singers also participated in the event.

Poets recited their poems and verses to enthrall the audience. They called for promotion of peace, love and brotherhoods in their poetic pieces. They said that their poems did not carry nay anti-society and negative message.

The deputy commissioner distributed certificates and cash prizes among the poets. He said that his administration would arrange a divisional level poetry and literary event in the coming months wherein poets and literati from Bannu and North Waziristan districts would also take part.

“Poets highlight social issues and create awareness among people, enabling them to play their role in elimination of such problems to make society evil-free,” he said.

Mr Wazir said the poetic and literary works and thoughts of poets and writers carried knowledge to enlighten people. He said that arts and culture influenced people, especially youth.

He praised local poets for presenting beautiful poetic pieces. He said that his administration would encourage and sponsor them.

Other officials declared the poetry session a positive initiative and stressed the need for holding such events in future.

MINISTER CONDOLES WITH MARTYRED COP’S FAMILY: Public health engineering minister Pakhtoon Yar Khan along with chief secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan the other day visited the houses of the policemen, who were martyred in Monday’s terrorist attack on police lines in Bannu, and shared condolences with their family members.

Divisional commissioner Abid Wazir, RPO Imran Shahid, deputy commissioner Abdul Hameed Khan and DPO Ziauddin Ahmad also accompanied them.

The minister assured the family, including children, of government support.

He said that the government stood by the families of martyred police officials in the time of extreme grief and sadness and won’t leave them alone.

“Because of the supreme sacrifices rendered by policemen, people, who are vulnerable to terrorism, are living in a peaceful environment,” he said.

The minister said the Bannu police exhibited unprecedented gallantry and foiled a gun and bomb attack by terrorists on the Iqbal Shaheed police lines.

“By thwarting the attack, the police gave a clear message to the miscreants that their malicious attempts will be foiled at all costs,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024