Classic case of greed: Book sellers turn into car sellers
NBF announces auction through degrading advertisement
Staff Reporter
Islamabad: National Book Foundation (NBF) has put on auction the official car which was used by the legendary poet late Ahmad Faraz, who served as the chairperson of NBF for several years. The auction was announced through an advertisement published in various newspapers and was issued by NBF Assistant Director Muhammad Rafique Naz. The degrading advertisement is not only poorly worded but is also completely against ethics. The advertisement tries to cash the emotions and respect that fans hold for the legendary poet, who passed away in 2008. The Urdu language advertisement titled ‘Aur Faraz chahien kitni mohabatien tujhe’ has the picture of the poet on one side and the car on the other. Such advertisements are usually published by lowly housing schemes looking to attract buyers. The advertisement pitches the car to potential buyers by claiming that Ahmad Faraz was shown traveling in the said car on the media and that on occasions he drove the car himself.
The demeaning advertisement has angered the fans of the legendary poet who have labeled the auction as nothing but pure greed on part of NBF officials. Public is of the opinion that instead of selling the car it should have been placed in a museum. Even if the funds were needed for some ‘noble cause’ or for the family of the late poet, they could have been collected by officially making an appeal to the public. Fans have equated selling the car to selling Faraz and demanded that the auction should be cancelled and an apology should be issued.
