FIFA Referee demands expansion in Dr Iqbal Mausoleum
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—International FIFA Referee, Muhammad Saleem Khan here Sunday appealed to President General Pervez Musharraf for fulfilling his commitment regarding expansion in the Mausoleum of Great Poet philosopher and poet of the East, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal in Lahore.
Talking to newsmen, Muhammad Saleem Khan, who is also General Secretary of the NWFP Football Referees Association, said that Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal was a great poet-philosopher, visionary statesman and leader who envisioned a new separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent during his presentational address at Allabad in 1930.
Mr Saleem said developing of Dr Iqbal Mausoleum would greatly facilitate his admirers, tourists, archeologist, academicians, students, historians, poets and local people who are coming in large number from inside and across the world to pay homage to great poet philosopher.
Saleem said that President General Pervez Musharraf during his visit last year promised to make expansion in Iqbal’s Mausoleum but since then no work has been started.
He also appealed to the Punjab government to take special interest for early execution of the project in order to pay rich tributes to Shair-e-Mashriq for his meritorious services and work. Dr Iqbal is best known for his poetic work including Asrar-e-Khudi, Rumuz-e-Bekhudi, and Bang-e-Dara, he added.
“The poetry of Dr Muhammad Iqbal (November 9, 1877 April 21, 1938) is for all times and ages.” His poetry had attracted people from all walks of life, belief and thoughts, saying that his poetry gave birth to motivation and spirit.
He said, Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilization across the world, but specifically in India, he delivered a series of famous lectures, which were published as “The Reconstruction of Religious Thought” in Islam.
Saleem Khan said Dr Iqbal had worked closely with Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He was awarded many titles such as Muffakir-e-Pakistan (The Thinker of Pakistan), Shair-e-Mashriq (The Poet of the East), and Hakeem-ul-Ummat.