Accolade Ceremony of the Book Mera Yaqeen By Dr.Uzma Ali Akhter
The Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, in collaboration with DHA Karachi, organized a solemn and impactful accolade ceremony on December 18, 2024 for the book Mera Yaqeen, authored by Dr. Uzma Ali Akhter, a senior faculty member of the Urdu department of DHACSS College for Women. The event honored the memories of the martyrs of the APS Peshawar tragedy and highlighted the resilience and unity of the nation.
The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by visuals featuring the APS incident. Brig. Mohammad Younas SI(M), Executive Director Education DHA Karachi presided the event. The renowned poetess and Chairperson of the Arts Council Karachi, Dr. Ambreen Haseeb, was the Guest of Honor. The event held profound significance as the bereaved parents of the APS martyrs were invited as Chief Guests. Their presence made the event more meaningful and heartfelt, embodying the spirit of courage and sacrifice that the book Mera Yaqeen seeks to honor.
The program featured five distinguished guest speakers, including Mr. Mazher Abbas, Mr.Rizwan Zaidi, Mr.Rizwan Jaffer, Dr. Farhana Ovais, and Syeda Nasreen Ejaz. They all spoke about their unique perspectives on the book and the intense impact of the APS tragedy.
Dr. Ambreen Haseeb, in her address, praised the author’s ability to turn immense grief into a narrative of hope and resilience, ensuring that the sacrifices of the martyrs are never forgotten.
Dr. Uzma Ali Akhter, the author of the book shared her personal journey of writing Mera Yaqeen, recounting how the APS tragedy moved her to pen this tribute to the victims and their families. She expressed her gratitude to the bereaved parents for their presence, acknowledging their strength and courage as the true inspiration behind the book and extended her gratitude to the Principal, DHACSS College for Women, Dr. Farhat Agha and the education Directorate DHA Karachi for their personal interest and support in organizing the ceremony. It was followed by a vote of thanks by Brig.(R) Mohammad younas, EDE,DHA Karachi.
The bereaved parents were presented with mementos symbolizing the nation’s recognition of their immense sacrifice. Dr. Uzma Ali Akhter was also awarded a shield of honor by parents of martyrs, acknowledging her literary contribution.
The event concluded with heartfelt prayers for the martyrs for peace and unity. The collaboration between the Arts Council of Pakistan and DHA Karachi ensured a dignified and memorable ceremony, leaving the audience inspired and deeply reflective.