PESHAWAR: Poets and writers gathered on Sunday to recognise contribution of senior Pashto poet Muntazir Shinwari to poetry and praise him for his bold expressions.

Khyber Pakhto Adabi Jirga (KPAJ), Khyber Agency, organised the event at Muntazir Baba hujra located on Nasir Bagh Road in Peshawar. Around 50 poets presented their poetic tributes to the septuagenarian Pashto poet. Poets and writers from Bara, Jamrud, Landi Kotal and Shalman participated in the event.

Paying glowing tributes to Muntazir Baba, the speakers said that he belonged to a generation of Pashto poets and writers, who always advocated humanism, universalism and peace and raised voice for the poor.

They said that he promoted progressive thoughts and stood for a purposeful poetry that should teach good lessons to society to practice good human values.

Speaking on the occasion, Muntazir Baba said that poets and writers were selfless servants, who always promoted the cause of universal values and guided people on a virtuous path.He said that he used his talent to enlighten people to know their responsibilities and their due rights to build a society exercising equality, justice and freedom of expression.

Prof Aslam Taseer Afridi, a noted poet, said that Muntazir Baba revived Khyber Adabi Jirga and groomed up budding poets and writers. He said that he enjoyed widespread respect for his simple way ofexpression.

Mr Afridi said that Muntazir Baba instilled a new spirit among young poets to dedicate their inborn talent to educate people on social values to ensure a peaceful society.

Qandahar Afridi, another senior poet, said that Muntazir Baba belonged to galaxy of Pashto poets and writers, who crafted new thoughts to promote humanism and progressivism through their writings. He added that he never backtracked from what he said once as he believed in fair play and human justice without any prejudice ofcolour, caste orcreed.

Prof Tawab Shah Masroor, general secretary of Khyber Pakhto Adabi Jirga, said that his organisation found a new impetus under the patronage of Muntazir Baba. He said that young literati learnt a lot from his literary acumen and life-long experience.

Mr Mansoor said that Muntazir Baba had been suffering from a strange illness for the last two years and the members of the Jirga wanted to honour him in his lifetime. `Muntazir Baba is like our spiritual guide, who always encourages us to promote new ideas and create new ways of expression,` he added.

Later, a Pashto mushaira was held in which poets paid rich tributes to Muntazir Baba for his literary contribution to Pashto language. Yar Hussian Sahil, Nisar Afkar, Kohat Khan Zakir, Iqbal Afridi, Mukhlis Afridi, Hanif Shalmani and Kabeer Khan Shinwari recited their poetic pieces on the occasion. The participants also prayed for early recovery of Muntazir Baba from the disease.