Iftikhar Qaisar

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Iftikhar Qaisar (

Iftikhar Qaisar's mother's ‘tribe’ were also Indian immigrants who were moved from Hoshiarpur India to Pakputtan Pakistan - they held the same view/feelings as his father's 'tribe'.

His mother's father served in the British army and was kept as a prisoner of war in a Japanese prison camp during the Second World War. Iftikhar's mother grew up living with her family in the British army's cantonment in Ferozepur India next door to the white British army servicemen's families. She used to tell stories to her children about living next to the educated white British ladies and their children, and their great lifestyles and living standards, noting how civilised they were. She learned her knitting and sewing skills through the white British ladies.

Iftikhar Qaisar imagines, that during his childhood his mother's stories about English culture may have touched and inspired him with a curiosity to western culture. When he moved to the UK in 1983 one of the first things he did was to learn ballroom dancing - he competed in a number of amateur competitions.

Education and poetry

He remembered hating the Pakistani education system as a child and so spent most of his time at the only local library in his town rather than at school. This is where he got inspired by Urdu literature, politics and poetry. He started to write his poetry in school and was encouraged by his tutor Abdul Hamid Shakeb who was himself a poet and writer.^{[citation needed]}

From a young age his poems were published in the children's section of newspapers such as ‘Daily Imrrose’. He became the editor of his college's magazine and was elected Secretary General of his college's (Government Degree College Chishtian Manddi) literary society. He was also appointed Poetry Representative for his college and won several student poetry competitions all over the country.

Politics

In 1981 in his home town he joined a political party called ‘Mazdoor Kosan Party’ (Labourer and Farmers Party) which was at the time led by the renowned communist leader Major Ishaq and the student's communist leader Imtiaz Allam. He soon left the party to join Benazir Bhutto’s father’s party Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s ‘Peoples Party’ which was a little version of a socialist party. On starting his full-time career as a professional journalist he completely gave up all his memberships and affiliations with all political parties.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Having worked in

In 1981, at the beginning of his journalistic career, he was detained by martial law army authorities for breaking news to international media about a cholera outbreak in his home town of Chishtian Maandi Pakistan during a media blackout. Over 40 people died and hundreds were severely unwell. The reported story took international attention and as a result help soon arrived.

Jang Forum

Iftikhar Qaisar started Jang Forum

When Geo TV was launched in 2001 Jang Forum was rebranded as ‘Awaaz’ and launched as a TV Show. After a small gap the programme was once again rebranded and went back to its original name of ‘Jang Forum’. This time, although still based in London, ‘Jang Forum’ travelled the UK and Europe with its production team and met local audiences. Some of the highlights of their travels included Brussels^{[permanent dead link]},^[9] Barcelona,^[10] Amsterdam,^[11] Rochdale^[12] Glasgow, [1],^[13] Manchester,^[14] Peterborough,^[15] Luton^[16] and Birmingham.^[17]

The latest series included the following guests

Film

In 1981 Iftikhar Qaisar trained as a motion film director in Evernew Studios Lahore Pakistan. He worked as an assistant director to several directors but mainly with the actor, writer and director

When he moved to London in 1983 he was selected for sponsorship by a Mayor of London's office campaign to join a special film direction course in the world-famous

He produced his first 13 episode Urdu TV Drama serial ‘Muhabatain’ in London in 1999 which aired on PTV (Pakistan Television).

He also produced and directed a documentary on

In 2001 he established IQ Studios in Pakistan. This TV studio produced the longest running TV Soap on Pakistani television which was called Tere Pehloo Main.^[18] The company has since produced hundreds of hours of TV programming including dramas, documentaries and shows. It has also trained hundreds of technicians whilst creating a large number of jobs in Pakistan.

Poetry

As a well known and established young poet he was able to make a living from his poetry recitals when he came to the UK in 1983. His first poetry reading was in

Poetry readings soon began to take up the majority of his time in London as he actively participated in dozens during his formative time in the UK. When Benazir Bhutto was forced as a political exile to London Iftikhar Qaisar was requested to read his popular and patriotic poetry at her massive public rallies.

His first poetry book Samander Maen Samander^[19] was first published in 1991 by Alhamd Publications (Lahore, Pakistan) - several editions followed.

At the height of activity in his poetic life during the eighties and early nineties many great

In 1997 a music album of Iftikhar Qaisar's poetry was released under the same title as his first book ‘Samander Maen Samander’.[21] The album was compiled and directed by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. This was in fact Khan's last album before his tragic death in London.^[22] A music video was made for the title song ‘Samander Maen Samander’ which helped the popularity of the album worldwide. The music video has been shown on several Indian and Pakistani channels as well as being uploaded to YouTube by many fans.^[23]

References