ISLAMABAD: On the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared Nov 9, Iqbal Day, as a public holiday in the province.
Imran Khan also appeared critical of the federal government’s decision to do away with a public holiday on Nov 9 when the nation marks birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
On Saturday, in a series of messages posted on twitter, Khan said while he disapproved too many holidays, Iqbal Day is different from other days as poet’s thought embodies the ideology of Pakistan.
He further said: ‘We must ensure Iqbal’s thought is passed on to our future generations Iqbal and his ideological foundations for Pakistan remain entrenched.’
Khan said in a tweet that it is extremely important for coming generations to remember and follow Iqbal’s thought so Pakistan’s ideological moorings are strengthened as nations without ideologies couldn’t survive.
The PTI chairman said both military and “democratic” dictators have suppressed Iqbal’s message of freedom of the body and soul.
The government has also drawn strong criticism from different sections of the society for it decision.
