Exhition of rare documents opens at Lok Virsa

A sense of enthusiasm and fervour has gripped Lok Virsa where an exhibition of rare photographs and documents related to Pakistan movement opened at Heritage Museum, Shakarparian, Islamabad today.

The exhibition is jointly organized by National Archives of Pakistan (NAP) in collaboration with Lok Virsa. This exhibition is an important part of the series of special programmes chalked out by Lok Virsa, National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage in connection with Independence Day celebrations.

Prof. Dr. Masoom Yaseenzai, vice chancellor, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad was the chief guest, who formally opened the exhibition. Executive Director, Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid and Director General, NAP were also present on the occasion. According to the organizers, the exhibition aims to enlighten the struggle for freedom for Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, vice chancellor, Quaid-e-Azam University highly appreciated the efforts of NAP and Lok Virsa in organizing and displaying the exhibition in a professional and befitting manner.

Explaining his point of view, executive director, Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid said “It is a joint initiative of NAP and Lok Virsa on the auspicious occasion of the independence day to pay tribute to the father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other great heroes in our national history who made a significant contribution for the creation of the country. Another objective of such an effort is to get acquainted the younger generation of Pakistan about the sacrifices of our great leaders in creating a separate homeland for our people, he added.

Executive Director, Lok Virsa apprised the media that it is the first time that NAP and Lok Virsa are collaborating for a specific event with mutual understanding and participation. He announced that this spirit of cooperation will also continue in future as well. Both the organizations are keen to hold a number of events jointly as regular features, he added.

200 photographs relating to founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and freedom fighters have been displayed on 25 panels and 30 coloured blow-ups of 6′x4′ on panaflex at the exhibition.

The photographs exhibited include Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sir Agha Khan III , Maulana Shibli Nomani, Maulana Nazir Ahmed, Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Nawab Salimullah Khan, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi, Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan, Maharaja Mehmoodabad, Sir Abdullah Haroon, Allama Iqbal, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, Liaqat Ali Khan, Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar, Qazi Muhammad Isa Khwaja Nazimuddin and many others.

On entrance of the exhibition venue, chronology of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah from 1876 to 1948 is displayed on a large panaflex. Rare documents contributed from Archives of all the four provinces are also on display. These include copies of Dawn newspaper, 1942 founded by Quaid-i-Azam, Simla deputation of All India Muslim League 1906, Joining of Quaid-i-Azam with Muslim League, 1913, Memorandam from All India Muslim League to David Lloyed George, Prime Minister of UK 1913, fourteen points of Quaid-i-Azam, Allama Iqbal address at Allahabad 1930, first, second and third Round Table Conference 1930 – 1932, London, copy of notes by Quaid-i-Azam before discussions with Gandhi in 1938, Pakistan Resolution 23 March 1940, famous poem by Mian Bashir Ahmed “Millat Ka Pasban Hai Muhammad Ali Jinnah” read during Pakistan Resolution 1940 at Lahore, nomination papers of Quaid-i-Azam for Legislative Assembly 1941, Sir Stafford Cripps proposal, constitution and rules of All India Muslim League 1940, leasing of Quetta Tehsil by Khan of Kalat 1881, military & tribal arrangemens in Balochistan 1882, Boundary Line between Sindh & Balochistan 1862-1853-1900, Balochistan Gazetteer, notes on the affairs of NWFP by General Pollock, old and rare original miniature paintings, etc.

The exhibition will remain on display at the Heritage Museum till 14 August 2010 daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Courtesy: Daily mail news