Islamabad (Sapeher Times) Syed Zafar Abbas Shah, popularly known as Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari, and the 45 years of selfless services of the Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan
Islamabad (Sapeher Times): Syed Zafar Abbas Shah, popularly known as Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari, is one of the most senior event organizers of Pakistan. Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari founded the Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan in 1981, and for the past 45 years, he has been rendering remarkable services in cultural, social, literary, and media activities on a self-help basis.
Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari belongs to the Najib-ut-Tarafain Syeds. His family lineage traces back to the 10th Imam, Hazrat Imam Ali Naqi (A.S.).
His ancestors migrated from Bukhara and settled in Baghdad Sharif. Later, by the command of Allah, they moved to Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and afterwards came from Makkah Sharif to Lahore in the Indian subcontinent for the propagation of Islam. Owing to his association with Makkah, Hazrat Pir Makki (Rahmatullah Alaih) became his title, while his blessed name was Hazrat Syed Azizuddin (Rahmatullah Alaih).
Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari’s maternal family belongs to the ancient Sufi and spiritual saint of Lahore, Hazrat Syed Jan Muhammad Huzoori Lahori (Rahmatullah Alaih), whose shrine is located at Shah Wan Di Garhi (Garhi Shahu), Lahore, from whom Sultan Bahoo (Rahmatullah Alaih) also attained spiritual enlightenment (Kashf).
His respected father, who was regarded as a Wali Allah (Friend of Allah) of the 21st century, was Hazrat Syed Muhammad Siddiq Shah, popularly known as Pir Syed Chishti Auliya Sakhi Sarkar Makki (Rahmatullah Alaih), whose shrine is situated at Chisht Nagar, opposite Yadgar-e-Shuhada, Manawan, Lahore.
This lengthy introduction has been presented because Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari does not consider religion and culture as separate entities. Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari says that he does not call himself the son of Lahore; rather, he says:
Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir are the ornaments of my forehead.
Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari said that when he launched the Asian Awards under the banner of the Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan in 1981, the Nigar Awards and the Graduate Awards were at the height of their popularity. However, he said that before the Nigar Awards and the Graduate Awards, Mr. Hameed-ul-Makki, a worker of the Pakistan Movement, had organized an award ceremony named Majid-ul-Makki Awards in memory of his brother.
Later, the Nigar Awards, which were started by Ilyas Rashidi of the weekly film newspaper Nigar, gained immense popularity. He said that if there had not been a film newspaper, he could confidently say that the Nigar Awards would never have become successful, because at that time it was the era of print media and magazines. Newspapers are still published today, but the Nigar Awards have now become a thing of the past.
Similarly, the story of the Graduate Awards is somewhat different. According to him, the success of those awards rested largely on Khalid Ghias, who was then the General Manager Marketing of PTV, and because of PTV he had personal relations with almost all actors. Adding further strength to the organization were the late eminent jurist S.M. Zafar as Chairman, Jameel Gishkori as Secretary General, and Shehzada Alam Monno as part of the organization. However, when Khalid Ghias retired from television, the Graduate Awards eventually came to an end after taking their last breath.
Now let us talk about the Bolan Awards, which from the very beginning adopted a provincial slogan. According to the traditions of Punjab, many prominent personalities extended their full support to them, but even they could not maintain continuity in organizing the award ceremonies.
A living example of this was the reception ceremony held a few months ago in honor of the driving force behind the Bolan Awards, from which people themselves could judge his services. Likewise, the National Awards, Musawar Awards, Al-Fankar Awards, Bahoo Awards, and several other award ceremonies were organized only once or a few times, but none of those organizations succeeded in maintaining continuity.
Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari stated that the Asian Cultural Association of Pakistan, besides organizing award ceremonies, also arranges Recognition of Art, Recognition of Service, Condolence References, and cultural programs on every national occasion, including Qawwali Nights, Majlis-e-Musalma, Mushairas, and other cultural events, without relying on any support or any provincial slogan.
People say about Syed Zafar Abbas, popularly known as Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari, that he is a “One Man Army.” Whatever event he wishes to organize, he receives support not only from his friends and well-wishers but also from Allah and Panjtan Pak.
The majority of people in Punjab, he says, have always opposed Pir Syed Suhail Bukhari and repeatedly tried to bring him down by joining hands with others. However, since he is from the Aal-e-Nabi and a descendant of Hazrat Fatima (A.S.), it is his spiritual heirs who continue to support and protect him.
