There are very few legends in this world who, live life to the fullest and legendary politician icon and Prime Minister, Pakistan Mohtaramma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was one of them. Such were the impressions gathered at Bethak by Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
The gathering of Bethak invited renowned singers Suriya Khanum and Asif Mehdi Hassan son of musical icon and King of Ghazal Mehdi Hassan to mark the 57th Birth Anniversary of legendary politician Prime Minister, Pakistan Mohtaramma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. who, was assassinated on 27 December 2007, after departing a PPP rally in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.
The evening also marked the celebrations of Music Day in Pakistan with an aim to promote peace, art and friendship among people. The musical evening began with the performances of Asif Mehdi Hassan who sang the most famous poem of Ahmed Faraz, Ranjish hi sahi, dil hi dukhaanay kay liyay aa… and a much requested ghazal of his father Zindagi mein to sabhi pyaar kiya karte hain…
After the performance of the artist, Asif Mehdi Hassan, a cake cutting ceremony took place to pay homage to the legendary leader who made us a proud Pakistanis and it included Regional Cultural Minister, Tanveer-ul-Islam, Shakir Ali Museum and National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) Administrator Mrs Amna Pataudi, The Deputy Director of Pakistan National Performing Arts Group (NPAG), Fatima Salman, prominent Tabla Nawaz player, Ustad Shabir Hussain (Jhari Khan) and others.
Later, the performance of classical and semi classical artist and singer Suriya Khanum began and made the listeners spell bound. She started by singing the kafiya of Shah Hussain and went on to perform on Sufi music. “It has been a great honour to perform on such occasion and pay homage to Mohtaramma Benazir Bhutto who was a beautiful combination of heart and soul. Hers is an irrevocable loss which can not be filled and I pray that Pakistan live long.”
The musical evening was attended by Regional Cultural Minister Tanveer-ul-Islam, members of Pakistan National Council of the Arts, music lovers, artists, students and teachers. “Today, the members of PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) at every level are paying a rich tribute to their leader by donating blood, cutting cakes and arranging special prayers.”
Shakir Ali Museum and National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) Administrator Mrs Amna Pataudi stated, “Every month we invite old and new faces of music icons to perform with an aim to promote the cultural heritage of the country and has taken several initiatives in this regard.”
The Deputy Director of Pakistan National Performing Arts Group (NPAG), Fatima Salman pointed out, “this musical evening is one of the series of Bethak titled, ‘Traditions and Future’ which began in 2009 and is still continuing. Previously, new and established singers like Arif Lohar, Saira Naseem, Saima Jahan, Shaukat Ali and his son Imran Shaukat and prominent Qawal Badar-u-Zaman and Qamar-u-Zaman have been a part of this series.”
Overall, the musical evening, titled, Bethak by Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) proved to be a restful and inspirational one and reminded us that leaders like Mohtaramma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed are not born every day!
