Awards and Accolades
for Zafar Abbas
A Pakistan Link Report
Zafar Abbas and his admirers
|
A picture of grace and poise,
Urdu Times Bureau Chief Zafar Abbas is perhaps the most
popular member of the community. His winsome smile, suave
disposition and cultured bearings make him the darling of
every gathering.
Over the years, Zafar has made his mark as a literatus,
calligraphist, artist and journalist. More recently, he
joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff Advisory Council to
promote interfaith understanding and succeeded in presenting
the peaceful face of Islam to fellow Council members. It
would not be an overstatement to say that Zafar is the most
endearing member of the Pakistani-American community in
the Los Angeles area. It was only befitting that the Anjuman-e-Tarraqi-e-Urdu
decided to dedicate “Ek Sham Zafar Abbas Kay Nam’
on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at the Shahnawaz Hotel in
Lakewood.
Awards for Zafar |
The event was attended by
a large number of Zafar’s admirers and testified to
his popularity. The guests included Consul General Syed
Ibne Abbas, prominent community activists, City and County
officials, and leading literati. The speakers included CG
Ibne Abbas, Chairperson Rehana Qamar of the Anjuman-e-Taraqi-e-Urdu,
Bob Adams, Narinjan Khalsa, Anis Mufti, Arif Imam, Wasiul
Hassan Naqqash, Qamar Ali Abbasi and Neelofar Abbasi. Mr
and Mrs Abbasi had especially flown from New York to grace
the event. Nadir Durrani had come from Dallas to be part
of the tribute-paying ceremony.
Several awards were given to Zafar on the occasion, including
the State of California Legislative Assembly Resolution
Award (Zafar is the fourth Muslim to receive the coveted
honor), Mayor of Los Angeles Excellence in Community Service
Award, LA County Sheriff Award, Kern County Sheriff Award,
Orange County Sheriff Award, and Human Rights Foundation
Award. Besides, the Anjuman-e-Taraqi-e-Urdu and Friends
of Pakistan presented Zaffar with checks of $5000 and $2000
respectively. A large number of presents were also given
to Zafar, including a gold locket by Jamil Bhatti, as a
token of the community’s appreciation for his multifarious
services.
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Zafar
Abbas |
Anees
Mufti, Zafar Abbas and Rehana Qamar
|
The ‘sham’ with
Zafar proved a rare show of spontaneous and overflowing
affection of the community and interfaith groups for Zafar
who was visibly overwhelmed. “Mae nae community ki
itni khidmat nahin kari jitna oos nae nawaza hae,”
an emotionally charged Zaffar stated. He was wholly wrong.
He deserves much more love for his sustained strivings to
support the community.
Rehana Qamar spotlighted the importance of the day. “Yeh
zaroori tha kae yeh sham manaee jaae aur haamari khush kismati
hae kae yeh farz ham nae ada kiya.”
A
section of the audience |
Consul General Ibne Abbas
appeared visibly happy to see vibrant Pakistani-American
groups engaged in the laudable task of promoting Urdu in
the distant land of the US. He described Zafar as a versatile
individual and was deeply impressed by the community’s
profound love for him. “Haerat hae kae community in
ko itna chati hae aur youn wahilana mohabat nichawar karti
hae,” he remarked.
Son of the late Farigh Bokhari
who was a contemporary and associate of Faiz Ahmad Faiz
and a poet, journalist, researcher and author of 54 books,
Zaffar is a gifted individual whose winsome smile and humility
endear him to one and all who know him. The ‘sham’
dedicated to his ‘naam’ would enrich the memories
and experiences of community members markedly more than
Zafar’s own. We in Pakistan Link pray for his continued
success.
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