LAHORE: Speakers at the launch of a book on communism and class activism on Friday effusively praised author Kamran Asdar Ali for documenting an important part of the country`s history.

`SurkhSalamCommunist Politics and Class Activism in Pakistan 1947-1972` was launched at the Oxford University Press (OUP) office in Gulberg.

A distinguished panel of speakers highlighted some aspects of the book especially its significance for students and researchers today.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan SecretaryGeneral LA. Rehman said the book was an extraordinary effort the the author had made while carrying out research. The author accessed libraries and went from place to place to meet people and glean facts for documenting a part of his-tory, he said.

The author, he said, had produced a narrative for the reader to understand a lot about the Communist Party.

He also threw light on different phases of the history through which Communist Movement went through including the banning of the party in the country, Mr Rehman said.

Saleema Hashmi, former dean School of Visual Arts at BNU, read out excerpts from the book. While reading some of the chapters of the book, she said, she felt as if she had been transported back to the days of Faiz Ahmed Faiz`s incarceration.

`The stories of unexpected betrayal and some optimistic stories too find place in the book,` she said.

Recalling the Rawalpindi Conspiracy case and those dusty journeys to Hyderabad Jail to meet her father and how Sajjad Zaheer spiritually broke up in Mach jail, she said the book was a great accomplishment given the research the author had done.Dr Anis Abid said the book was a continuation of the struggle that started way bacl< with the launch of the Communist Party. `Although we are seeing communism fade into oblivion all over the world, it must not be forgotten that people had been struggling and would keep on struggling for their rights and equality,` he said.

Anushay Malik, who for thelastdecadeorsohasbeen gathering narratives of progressive writers in Pakistan, was of the view that the book defined our position in the world. The book, she said, unfolded many stories.

She said it was not easy to produce such a book,for the author had given descriptions of individuals and mentioned all those important places that mattered when it comes to writing on Communist movement in Pakistan.

Abid Hassan Minto said the author`s way of writing was interesting and a reader could immensely benefit from mention of his source material in the notes.