MIRPUR (AJK) - Azad Jammu & Kashmir celebrated 140th birth anniversary of Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal with the renewal of the pledge to work with their Pakistani brethren to make it a true islamic state, and to continue struggle for their right to self-determination.
The world-fame poet of the east was born on November 9 in 1877 in a middle-class family at ancient Kashmiri Mohalla, Sialkot city.
The day dawned with special prayers in the mosques for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan and for the freedom of all the Muslim homelands including occupied Jammu & Kashmir and Palestine. Various cultural, political and social organisations held meetings and seminars in various parts of the liberated territory to highlight the services rendered by the great visionary of 20th century.
People from various parts of AJK visited the ‘Mazaar e - Iqbal’ in Lahore and laid a wreath to pay homage to Poet of the East. They also offered Fateha and prayed for prosperity and solidarity of the country. The day was marked with a special ceremony held in Mirpur (AJK) Campus of International Islamic University Islamabad School. The school children presented tableaus depicted Iqbal’s message to the young generation. Addressing the ceremony, speakers said that the best way to pay rich tribute to the poet philosopher is to follow and act upon the message he gave through his poetry.
A similar ceremony was also held under the auspices of Jinnah Foundation to pay tribute to the vision of Dr Iqbal in addition. All the three radio stations of Azad Jammu Kashmir including Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Tararkheil and AJK TV aired special programmes with emphasis on life and services of the great poet.