TORONTO -Consulate General of Pakistan, Toronto, in collaboration with the International Iqbal Society, organized an international online conference entitled “Fikr e Iqbal aur Daur e Jadeed” to commemorate Iqbal Day 2021. Eminent speakers included Dr. Aslam Ansari (Pakistan); Prof. Dr. Abdul Haq (India); Prof. Dr. Sharif Baqa (the UK); Dr. Taqi Aabedi (Canada) – Mr. Ahmed Javed (Pakistan); Dr. Ali Rabbani (Iran); Prof. Dr. Suheyl Umar (Pakistan); Prof. Dr. Baseera Ambreen (Pakistan); Prof. Halil Toker (Turkey); Dr. Tahir Hameed Tanoli (Pakistan); Dr. Mahmudul Islam (Bangladesh); and Prof. Dr. Khalid Sanjrani (Pakistan).
Quran Recitation and Kalame Iqbal were offered by Mr. Waseem Haroon and Ms. Zakia Ghazal. Consul General Abdul Hameed and Mr. Noman Bokhari, founder of the International Iqbal Society welcomed the participants. In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Abdul Hameed noted that Iqbal championed the narrative of Islamic civilization to resist colonial domination. His strong narrative remained a beacon of hope for all oppressed people of the world. The Consul General further noted that Iqbal’s teachings could be used to counter ultra-nationalism, racism, and extremism that have plagued the modern world.
The speakers paid rich tributes to Iqbal’s political philosophy and teachings. They remarked that Iqbal’s political thoughts were based on the teachings of the Holy Quran. His teachings were not constrained by time and could offer solution to problems of the modern world. They stated that Iqbal and his teachings were universally recognized as a bulwark against the colonial mindset. The speakers noted that Iqbal synthesized the principles of politics for an Islamic society in the light of western political philosophy and Islamic concept of government that remained valid for the coming generations. ****
