LAHORE: Pakistan marked the 148th birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal on November 9, celebrating the national poet’s profound influence on the country’s history and identity. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both paid tribute to Iqbal’s extraordinary role in inspiring the independence movement among Muslims in the subcontinent.
In their separate messages, the leaders emphasized Iqbal’s visionary ideals and the lasting impact of his thoughts. President Zardari highlighted Iqbal’s advocacy for political representation of Muslims, which played a crucial role in shaping Pakistan’s national identity. Prime Minister Sharif stressed that the world today urgently needs Iqbal’s message of brotherhood, love, and justice, adding that the government had launched several initiatives aimed at empowering the youth, in line with Iqbal’s vision.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also honored Allama Iqbal, describing him as the Thinker of Pakistan and the Poet of the East. Naqvi praised Iqbal’s philosophy, particularly his concept of Khudi (selfhood), which he said inspired a sense of dignity, self-confidence, and ambition among Muslims. He remarked that Pakistan was the realization of Iqbal’s dream and stressed that protecting the nation was a shared responsibility.
Sindh’s leaders also paid tribute to Iqbal, with Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasizing Iqbal’s philosophy of self-confidence and nation-building. He urged the youth to adopt Iqbal’s teachings to address contemporary challenges and called for national unity. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon echoed this sentiment, noting that Iqbal’s message promoted spiritual growth, knowledge, and responsibility.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated his party’s commitment to Iqbal’s vision of a progressive, independent nation. He recalled how his mother, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, advanced Iqbal’s mission by empowering the people and strengthening democracy. Bhutto Zardari called for unity to build a future where hope, equality, and dignity prevail, a vision in line with Iqbal’s dream.
In Lahore, a Change of Guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Iqbal to honor the poet’s legacy. The chief guest, Rear Admiral Sohail Ahmad Azmi, Commander Pakistan Navy, Central Punjab, laid a floral wreath at Iqbal’s tomb, offered Fateha, and inspected the guard of honor by contingents from the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Rangers.
Allama Iqbal’s 148th birth anniversary served as a reminder of his lasting contributions to the intellectual and political awakening of the Muslim world, with leaders and citizens alike renewing their commitment to his vision for a prosperous, unified, and progressive Pakistan.
