mastered and in his own style, otherwise the idea would vanish. Aptitude for a particular form is quite natural and personal, almost an inborn attribute of the poet. Afzal Shauq has developed an aptitude for free verse and has acquired the art of articulation in this form…. Dr. Sher Zaman Taizi’
(Bridging The Gaps/Nazish Zafar/P: 37)
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‘Hasham Babar has compared these short poems to “ the bullets of pistol, having an unforgettable effects”. However, these poems appear more like small capsules for all kind of social, political and moral maladies. Like unwelcome medicine they, or some of them, may taste bitter for the time being, but they have the sure therapeutic effect. In all fairness these poems can be compared to small does of a life saving drugs for the cancer of the ailing humanity. Afzal Shauq may not be an al- chemist ( or kimyadan) but he can be compared to a modern day Hakim, a doctor, a specialist practitioner par excellence, with his fingers on the pulse of the ailing, insane humanity and the ultimate remedy that he proposes is more in the nature of dreams, tranquility and love, and not surgery, operation and amputation. His poetry also holds a mirror to humanity in order to see the reflection of its neurosis and become conscious of the sense of guilt and the damage that it has done to itself. And then through the charms ( or Janthar Manthar) of his poetry the poet carefully cures the ailing humanity of all the psychopathic diseases….. Dr. Qabil Khan’
(Bridging The Gaps/Nazish Zafar/P: 41)
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‘Although it is far too often implied, the pen is mightier than the sword well, if this indeed be so, then Afzal