HYDERABAD, March 5: Scholars paid glowing tributes to the immortal poet and saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai at a literary conference, part of the 263rd Urs celebrations of the Sufi poet, at Bhitshah Excellence Centre on Monday.

They read papers on the life, poetry and philosophy of the great Sufi poet at the conference, which was organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism in cooperation with Sindhi Language Authority, and said that Shah’s message was peace, love, universal brotherhood and oneness of God.

They said that Shah’s poetry provided answers to the chaos and anarchy, which had maligned the societies.

The department organises a one-day literary conference each year on the occasion of Urs celebrations but this year it has sponsored a two-day conference.

Those who read papers included Qazi Manzar Hayat, Sarwar Bughio, Abdul Jabbar Atif, Arbab Naik Mohammad, Naseer Mirza, Tajal Bewas, Dr Nawaz Ali Shouq, Prof Qavi Ahmed, Anwar Sagar and Qalandar Shah Lakyari.

ANNIVERSARY: Nationalist leaders demanded on Monday that the operation against nationalist leaders in Sindh and Balochistan should be stopped, the arrested leaders should be produced in courts and false cases against political prisoners should be withdrawn.

Speaking at the second death anniversary of JSMM leader Samiullah Kalhoro at the press club they rejected the proposed construction of Kalabagh Dam, Greater Thal Canal and demanded that the decision to dispose of Sindh’s islands should be rescinded.

Leader of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Abdul Wahid Arisar said that martyrs did not belong to any particular party or nationality. Samiullah Kalhoro was a hero of all the parties, he said.

He said that late Kalhoro’s sacrifices would not go in vain and urged all the oppressed nations to launch a joint a struggle for their collective rights.

Sindh National Congress leader Hussain Bux Thebo said that the message of Kalhoro would always remain alive.

Veteran leftist leader Jam Saqi said that the rulers were staging a farce about provincial autonomy.

Unless all the oppressed nations were granted their inherent rights, the propaganda about provincial autonomy was meaningless, he added.

Sindh Hari Committee President Azhar Jatoi said that workers of nationalist parties had been made to disappear and the districts of interior Sindh had been reduced to personal fiefdoms of jagirdars.

Dr Mir Alam Mari, Serai Qurban Khuhawar and Arbab Khuhawar also spoke on the occasion.

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