IT was a period in Pakistan`s history when, largely due to the hard work put in by its Prime Minister Z A Bhutto, it was trying its utmost to bring the Islamic world together with renewed vigour. As a result, dignitaries from the Arab world had begun to land in Pakistan frequently. In connection with that, on Jan 8, 1974 three local religious leaders Maulana Ehteshamul Haq Thanvi, Pir Hashim Jan and Dr Amir Ahmed welcomed the proposal of President Idi Amin of Uganda to designate King Faisal of Saudi Arabia as the `leader of the Muslim world`. In a statement issued from Karachi they said the proposal truly reflected the will of Pakistanis who regard King Faisal at the centre of Islamic unity.They lauded the role that he had played in the war in the Middle East in October 1973.

On Jan 11, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Al-Khatib praised Pakistan for supporting the Arab cause claiming Pakistan had created enormous goodwill for itself among Arab countries.

Speaking at an event in the city, he expressed satisfaction at Pakistan`s policy on the subject. He was of the view that the policy was based on `Islamic brotherhood and friendship`.

The next day, on Jan 12, Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al-Qasim, brother of the Sultan of Sharjah, called on Prime Minister Z A Bhutto in the Sindh capital and discussed matters of mutual interest with him.

The week, however, began in a commemorative mood when on Jan 8 Karachi`s students observed `ShaheedDay` to pay homage to the martyrs of the Jan 1953 student movement in which a number of youngsters were killed by the police. Meetings were held under the auspices of the National Students Federation (NSF), the Sindh National Students Federation (SNSF) and some other bodies in the city in which tributes were paid to those who laid down their lives defending the interest of the downtrodden in general and the student community in particular.

But how can Karachi progress in any era without its colourful cultural identity? On Jan 9, an exhibition of 128 beautiful Japanese and western flower arrangements was inaugurated at the Arts Council by Begum Abdul Hafeez Pirzada.

And on Jan 10, poet Hafeez Hoshiarpuri`s first death anniversary was observed and his collection Muqam-i-Ghazal was iaunched at thesame venue, the Arts Council. Presided over by Mumtaz Hasan, the programme was addressed by Air Marshal Zafar Chowdhury, Syed Hashim Raza, Shanul Haq Haqqi, Zia Jalandhri, Dr Abul Khair Kashfi and the late poet`s daughter Dr Sabiha. Mr Jalandhri said Mr Hoshiarpuri always looked for perfection. `Partly for this reason, he could not get his collection published in his lifetime.` Dr Kashfi said Mr Hoshiarpuri`s poetry reflected his personality and his deep links with the past and the present. Mr Raza said the poet was a public servant because of which he could not have opened up too much. `Even otherwise he used to say many things between the lines. The same style could be seen in his ghazals.` Dr Sabiha said apart from poems her father had left a treasure of other pieces of writing, including articles and letters.