JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 07, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
KARACHI: The three-day Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) featuring writers, poets, showbiz figures and journalists concluded Sunday.
According to the organizers, prominent authors and speakers paid glowing tributes to distinguished writer Intizar Hussain. They said that Hussain not only contributed richly to Urdu literature but was one of the keynote speakers at this festival for past many years. Hussain, 92, passed away in Lahore on February 2. His personality and works were discussed at various sessions during the festival. He was remembered for his versatile writing and contribution to literature.
Speaking at the concluding session, Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director, Oxford University Press Pakistan, and Founder/Director, KLF said: “The death of our distinguished Urdu writer Intizar Hussain three days before the opening of KLF not only deprived us of one of our finest speakers but also left behind a void in our literary culture and sadness in our hearts.
“I hope that, in time, more Intizar Hussains and more gifted authors will emerge from among our young writers.”
It was pointed out that the impact of the three days of discussions and discourse was touching and astonishing. Responses slowly became spontaneous and silence and conformity were replaced by curiosity and searching questions.
The discerning Pakistani voice was being heard in the halls of KLF which provided moments of self-recognition for Pakistan.
Ms Saiyid mentioned that Karachi, one of the biggest cities of the world, is a city of diversity where citizens are people originating from every part of the subcontinent and beyond.
The many flavors of that diversity are what gives Karachi a special richness and makes it an apt location for the diversified nature of this celebration of books and writers.
“At Oxford University Press and KLF, we have been trying consistently to encourage young writers as this year we increased the number of annual awards for writing. KLF 2016 saw the launch of our fourth award – the KLF Urdu Fiction/Non-fiction Prize. We also announced the Italy Reads Pakistan award,” she said.
This year foreign and local authors also visited KLF from Italy, France, UK, US, India and distant parts of Pakistan to enrich and inspire audience of Karachi.
UBL Literary Excellence Awards were given to Asghar Nadeem Syed, Arfa Sayeda Zehra, Anwaar Ahmad, Kishwar Naheed, Ghazi Salahuddin, Asif Farrukhi, Framji Minwalla and Wajahat Husain. – APP
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.