KARACHI: Closing ceremony of the Art and Crafts exhibition based on the artworks of prisoners in Karachi was held at Ahmed Parvaiz Art Gallery. Jail Superintendent Hassan Sahito, Former IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, Anwar Maqsood, Former Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Hafiz Naeem ur Rahman, Senior Leader Taj Haider, Actor Sajid Hassan, Nasreen Jalil, Prisoner Artist Muhammad Ijaz, Prisoner Artist Allah Wadayo political and social figures and senior officers of the police department attended the closing ceremony.
President Arts council Mohammad Ahmed Shah Express his view as chief guest of the event said that central Jail is a historical jail, big personalities including Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, Wali Khan have stayed in this jail. He said that the cells of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Faiz Ahmad Faiz should be named after them, the jail should have its own museum, those who come out of jail after learning skills are now teaching others. Art faculty of Arts Council will visit the jail every week. It was a wonderful exhibition for three days. We will try our best to take this exhibition all over Pakistan.
Renowned writer and intellectual Anwar Maqsood said, I saw the exhibition. It is very beautiful work, I am happy to see a good exhibition after many days, my heart wanted to meet these prisoners, everyone’s calligraphy is very good, I congratulate them, he said, there are many artists among these prisoners. There are those who have been sentenced to life imprisonment and some have been sentenced to death, I will request the higher officers to reduce their punishment, IG Sindh Syed Anwar Mustafa said that the real effort is to highlight this work, thank you very much to Ahmed Shah for giving us the opportunity, Superintendent Jail Hassan Sahito said that I try to return the trusts of the society in a better way.
Come to be a citizen, the families of those who come to prison are affected, the prisoners who come to prison can support their homes, my aim was to tell the world that we send prisoners back as useful citizens, we are grateful to President of Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed for supporting us, senior leader of People’s Party Taj Haider said that this exhibition is a proof that the walls of the prison cannot imprison the creative mind of a person, it gives hope to the nations. There is hopelessness outside but there is hope inside the prison, the spirit of moving forward in bad conditions makes a person strong, this exhibition should be taken all over Pakistan so that the people there also know that the prisoners are not less than anyone.
Former provincial minister Saeed Ghani said that the prisoners have done a very unique work, I am very happy and surprised that the death row prisoners learned this work while in prison, those who are not in prisons should also learn such arts. Our effort has been to train people inside the prison in such a way that they stay away from crime. Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that it is a very beautiful exhibition which is amazing in terms of art. It is surprising that they are showing such art while living in jail. People deteriorate, jail should be a place to make a better person. Credit for its success goes to Ahmed Shah and Hassan Sahito, who organized this exhibition. Former IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon said that we thanked for this great initiative to the Jail Administration and Arts Council. This is not a display but a feeling that Hassan Sahito felt, this feeling is very close to my heart, it is also important to show the true view of the criminal to the world, the society is getting to see a unique face, Nisreen Jalil said that this is a very high work, the less it can be appreciated, I can imagine the mental pressure in the prison, it has been depicted very well.
The work of sewing and beadwork in the creation has started a stream of income for the prisoners, which can help their families. The Pakistan Theater Festival is also taking place in the Arts Council, in which people from all over the world are present. Ahmed Shah proved with his hard work and dedication that if people want to do something, they can do it. Actor Sajid Hasan said that a great work has been seen today, the prisoners have done art work with great skill, this kind of initiative will change the attitudes and thinking of the prisoners, I think that the work done today I see this will reduce the crime rate, I congratulate the Superintendent of Jails Hassan Sahito and Muhammad Ahmad Shah for such a wonderful exhibition, Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi under the leadership of Ahmed Shah is a great way to promote art and culture. Prisoner artist Muhammad Ijaz said while talking that I am a life prisoner, I have been in prison since 2014 and I have been doing art work since 2017.
Today I am very happy to be among you people. I first started with simple paintings then worked on 3D paintings, because of my teacher I am where I am today, I have no words to describe my feelings. Prisoner artist Allah Wadayo said that he developed a passion for fine arts while in prison and got an opportunity to learn a lot in his hobby. It is a great hobby to spend time in prison. Finally, President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmad Shah was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the Police Department while President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmad Shah presented the award to Superintendent Jail Hassan Sahito and Deputy Superintendent and Teacher of Fine Art School of Jail Hasnain Raza. Asim Naqvi, Art School Coordinator of the Council was also given a certificate.
