Writers' Conference on Sufism and Peace begins in Islamabad

(picture: Fakhar Zaman, Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters)

"Writers’ conference starts today," Sunday, March 14, published in the Daily Times, Pakistan

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: International Writers’ Conference starting on Sunday is the brainchild of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto (BB), said Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Chairman Fakhar Zaman on Saturday.

Talking to media persons, he said that it was in pursuance of BB’s vision that PAL was organising the writers’ conference on ‘Sufism and Peace’.

The PAL chairman told media men that all arrangements had been completed for the conference. “Writers from across Pakistan as well as foreign countries will participate in the conference. First session of the conference will be held today at 10:30am,” he informed journalists.

He said that he would present keynote address, while Peter Curman, Vito Salierno, Zhou Yuan and Gerd Leineweber would read their articles in the first session. He added that on the same day second session would get underway at 3:00pm in which Denis [Gril?], Pran Nath, Cherif Ouazzani Chahdi, Eric Geoffrey, Stephen Matthew and Dr Nizamud Din would read their papers.

He added that the third session of the conference would start at 10:30am on Monday in which Dr Fatima Hussain, Mohammad Mehdi, Jolanta, [Pablo?] Beneito Arias, Dr Sky Hawk and Nabeela Kiani would read their articles.

“The same day fourth session of the conference will begin at 3:30pm in which Dr Hanan Ahmad, Gheorghe Grigore, Shahid Mehdi, Gulzar, Mahmut Erol [Kilic?] and Dr Fehmida Hussain will present their articles,” he said.

He said that the fifth session would commence at 10:30am on the third and final day (Tuesday) in which Ruzana V Pskhu, Neshegul Niki, Khalid Ahmad, Ignacio Salvador, Jack and Haenni Patrick would present their papers. “The same day sixth session will start at 3:30pm in which Jaana Kristina, Ramani, Dr Ahmad Mubashar Malik and Jan Henrik will present their papers,” he said.

He added that the chief guest would make concluding remarks, while he would present vote of thanks.