LAHORE: The Government College University (GCU) rocked with celebrity performances and eminent music bands when the GCU Welfare Society organised a Bonfire Night in a series of events to help the poor students of the university through the campaign, “Help the Helpless” on Tuesday night at the amphitheatre.Eminent singers, including Shafqat Amanat Ali, Arif Lohar, Annie, Jassie, Amanat Ali Khan, and music bands, including Raga Boys and Call, rocked the Bonfire Night with their popular tracks.Noted industrialist and GCU Endowment Fund Executive Committee President, Iqbal Z Ahmed, inaugurated the event by starting the fire, while the Punjab Education Minister and Old Ravian, Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, US Consul General Carmella Conroy, US Consulate Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Larson and a large number of other dignitaries also attended the event.The bonfire, kicked off with a medley sung by twin sisters Rida and Nida, who are students of BSC (Hons) at GCU. The Indian song “Inn Ankhon Ki Masti Ka”, presented by GCU Welfare Society students, added fuel to the fire. The traditional dance by five Baloch students and Five Baloch students performed a traditional dance while another student, Basir Ahmad, performed a dance featuring moves by Michael Jackson.
A skit by a student of GCU, Ahmed Sahi, in which he mimicked noted politicians, was the most popular performance of the night. GCU students Hassan Maqsood and Imran Fida also sang at the event. The amphitheatre resounded with shouts, whistles and shrieks when Shafqat Amanat Ali, who is also an Old Ravian, came on stage. He performed an unscheduled live performance due to the popular demand of his old friends of GCU. Shafqat sung his famous songs “Khamaaj”, “Terey naina” and “Mitwaa”. A thirty-second silence was observed for the sad demise of Jamil Fakhri’s son on Shafqat’s request.Arif Lohar also gave a sizzling performance in his traditional folk style, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the US diplomats.GCU Welfare Society adviser, Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt, said that GCU does not only lead in research and academic activities, but also provides opportunities to its students to participate in extra-curricular activities. He said that the best thing about the Bonfire Night was that the students by attending it also supported a cause to help the deserving students who could not afford their academic expenses. All the proceedings that GCU Welfare Society generated through this campaign would be spent on deserving students – Dailytimes
