Pakistani Americans Pay Tributes to the Late Khalid Hasan
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Dr Agha Saeed and prominent members of the community pay tributes to the late Khalid Hasan in Washington
Washington , DC: Rich tributes were paid to late Khalid Hasan, prolific journalist and writer, who breathed his last in Virginia last week.
The event, held in Washington DC's L'Enfant Hotel and attended by writers, poets, thinkers, journalists, and political leaders, was organized by the Pakistan American Democratic Forum, a grassroots organization dedicated to the establishment of democracy, rule of law, transparency, and accountability in Pakistan.
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, senior vice president of Pakistan Muslim League (N), eulogized Khalid Hasan as a true Pakistani, who, he stated, put in his best efforts to project the aspirations of the Pakistani society. In this context, he particularly referred to the days the deceased was working with daily Pakistan Times.
Subsequently, even though Khalid Hasan had shifted over to the United States decades ago he remained loyal to pen and ideas which influenced and bettered the lot of Pakistanis.
Hashmi Sahib said, even when Khalid Hasan entertained different thinking, he would still be polite, though candid in the expression of his differing views.
Dr. Abul Hasan Naghmi, a noted literary figure, said Khalid sahib had translated many works of Urdu literature into English, including those of Saadat Manto.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, executive director of KAC, said Khalid Hasan was an enlightened and scholarly person, who was a keen supporter of the Kashmir cause.
Abida Waqar referred to the untiring work that was being done by the deceased in the spirit of a missionary.
Recalling Khalid Hasan insightful reporting of the American Muslim politics, most notably of the Muslim vote in 2008, Dr. Agha Saeed, founder of Pakistan American Democratic Forum (PADF), cited the following news item published in Daily Times on October 28, 2008:
Washington: About 90 percent of American Muslims are expected to vote for Barack Obama on November 4, according to a key Muslim community leader, who wished to remain anonymous since any open or overt expression of support from a Muslim group for Obama is likely to hurt rather than help his bid for the White House. Leading Muslim organizations and groups have been requested by Obama's people not to declare their support to the Democratic candidate openly as they fear it will be used to decry the senator as a 'crypto Muslim' or 'jihahidi manqué,' so much paranoia about Islam and Muslims has been spread by neocon supporters of John McCain and certain radical, ultra conservative church and evangelical groups."
In his remarks, Dr. Agha Saeed said Khalid Hasan's demise was a loss not only to journalism but to Urdu literature and recited the following poem by CzeslawMilosz, the polish Nobel Laureate, to express his feelings at Khalid Hasan's death:
We were riding through frozen fields in a wagon at dawn.
A red wing rose in the darkness.
And suddenly a hare ran across the road.
One of us pointed to it with his hand.
That was long ago. Today neither of them is alive,
Not the hare, nor the man who made the gesture.
O my love, where are they, where are they going
The flash of a hand, streak of movement, rustle of pebbles.
I ask not out of sorrow, but in wonder.
The other speakers included Muhammad Atif, Javed Kausar, Kamil Butt and Khalil Bughio.
On the occasion, dua was offered for resting of eternal peace of the departed soul and grant of strength to the bereaved to bear his immense loss with fortitude.
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