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Pashto folk singer urges artists seeking asylum abroad to return home

Pashto folk singer urges artists seeking asylum abroad to return home

The singer says seeking asylum brings a bad name to the country
Updated 23 Apr, 2019

Noted Pashto folk singer Hashmat Sahar has asked artists and singers to return to their motherland to spread the message of peace among people through their art.

In a chat with this scribe here on Sunday on his return from a musical concert in Australia, he said that he did not stay there despite having offers.

He said that the artists and singers living abroad should return to serve their homeland through their talent.

“My own land and people are everything for me and my family. The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including artists have suffered a lot but leaving country would serve no purpose,” said the singer.

Hashmat Sahar and his colleague Maaz Khan had been invited to Australia by the Afghan community to perform on the occasion of Jashn-i-Nauroz.

He said that some Pakhtun immigrants in Australia offered him to seek asylum if he faced any threats but he declined their request and instead preferred to return to his homeland.

Without naming anyone, the singer that staying back of a few artists and singers abroad in the name of security threats brought a bad name to the country.

“How I can serve my people if I seek asylum on a foreign land. We should love and respect our own art and culture, serving it would earn us identity and more respect,” he said.

Recipient of numerous awards, Mr Sahar has been to Gulf States and Afghanistan on several occasions and enjoys widespread fame for his art of singing.

Hailing from district Hangu, he has been in the field for the 15 years and known for his quality work.

He said that artists and singers being cultural ambassadors should represent a soft image of their country and Pakhtuns at large while using their art.

“I have learnt basics of music from Maaz Khan Ustad and Saida Gul Maina. All my ustads love their own land and people.

“I also request my other artists and singers, who have been living abroad, to come back to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as peace and stability had returned. I don’t want to take the name of any particular artist or singer but I just say and strongly believe that a fish cannot live without water so an artist, a genuine artist, would never do it,” he said.

About future plans, he said that he had started work on hit numbers and would launch his YouTube channel because he has a huge following.

He said artists and singers had no threats from anyone and should spread the message of peace.


Originally published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2019

Comments

Swiss Neutral Apr 23, 2019 09:42am
Everybody wants a better life. Improve quality of life in Pakistan
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Human Apr 23, 2019 10:06am
Pukhtoons are most patriotic Pakistanis. The likes of TTPTM will never succeed in misguiding them.
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Prateik Apr 23, 2019 10:32am
People leave their homeland to make money.
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SAK Apr 23, 2019 10:57am
Excellent; a true Pakistani . Allah bless him with more wisdom and love for his country.
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Ali Turi Apr 23, 2019 12:50pm
People can’t offer you Asylum, it’s the government
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Ahmed Apr 23, 2019 01:17pm
Commendable act. Sound words of advice to those who leave their country of birth for foreign shores. Money is not everything.
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M. Saeed Apr 23, 2019 02:21pm
Over 8 million patriotic Pakistanis are working abroad and sending home remittances to their families back home to make them live better lives.
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fairplay Apr 23, 2019 02:29pm
Good move, thanks.
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fairplay Apr 23, 2019 02:30pm
@Human agree
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aslam khan Apr 23, 2019 04:40pm
Can not blame people from KPK seeking asylum after experiening 2nd PTI term.
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aslam khan Apr 23, 2019 04:41pm
@Ali Turi people or governments dont offer asylum rather asylum is requested.
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Reader Apr 23, 2019 08:16pm
Pakhtoons were divided by the Durand line drawn by the British, past masters in the art od dividing other people.
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Jigar Apr 23, 2019 08:33pm
@aslam khan. Why are you commenting on asylum when you obviously don't know much about it. And as far as PTI's second term in KPK is concerned, people voted for them.
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Gul Khan Apr 24, 2019 06:50am
About 10 million Pashtuns have been pushed to live overseas predominantly guest workers in Arab countries. FX they earn run Pakistan. You are one less but it is better to serve Pashtu language which is under attack & at point of annihilation .
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dARAWAL Apr 24, 2019 07:03am
@Human just asking for their rights in a peaceful way.
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Laila Apr 25, 2019 04:06pm
You cant blame people for wanting to improve their lives by migrating. But I do love the Pukhtoons for other reasons.
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