Umar Sharif announces formation of artistes association
From our correspondent
30 July 2005
LAHORE — Comedian and film artist Umar Sharif has announced the formation of Artistes Association of Pakistan (AAP) for the welfare of artistes. “We will develop an artists colony. Plots would be distributed among technicians of film industry. Other people associated with the industry would also be eligible to get loans,” Umar Sharif said.
He said that a hospital would be established in the premises of his academy. Besides providing them monetary help AAP would also protect and safeguard their rights as well as provide legal aid. He said that APP would set up a production house where all well-known film artistes would enjoy the facility of recording shows and serials.
He said that funds would be provided to help the poor workers of the film industry for the marriages of their daughters. He announced that Mustafa Qureshi will be chief executive of APP. Other office bearers are Shan (chairman), Saud (vice-chairman) Asif Khan, Sangeeta and Umar Sharif (senior vice-chairman), Ghulam Mohyuddin (general-secretary) Arbaz Khan and Bahar Begum (joint secretary) and Afzal Khan Rambo (treasurer).
Masood Akhtar and Irfan Khoosat have both been appointed propaganda secretary. Oyes Ahmed will be legal adviser. All the office-bearers of the new organisation were present at the Press briefing. It is pertinent to mention here that the new artistes body has been formed after emergence of differences among actors with regard to the functioning of Movie Artistes Association of Pakistan (MAAP).
Action was taken by MAAP against actor Ghulam Mohyuddin for meeting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz with a delegation without first getting permission. Ghulam Mohyuddin was secretary general of MAAP while Yousaf Khan is the chairman.
A court has reportedly restrained Mustafa Qureshi, Shan, Saud and Ghulam Mohyuddin from speaking against MAAP or holding a Press conference about it.
All the four actors were present at the Press conference on Thursday but did not speak about MAAP. They were wearing black armbands as a mark of protest. Nisho, Asif Khan, Afzal Khan Rambo and Adeeb speaking at the Press conference vowed to make the new organisation a success. They criticised Yousaf Khan and said that MAAP had done nothing for the welfare of movie artistes.