University College Lahore (UCL) wins GCU’s Iqbal Declamation

Lahore, The University College Lahore (UCL) Thursday won the 30th All Pakistan Allama Muhamamd Iqbal Declamation Contest, hosted by the Government College University Lahore Debating Society (GCUDS), by beating the best orators of the 70 educational institutions of the country. Noted lawyer Mr. Aamir Aziz Sayid was the Guest of Honor while GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Khalid Aftab also graced the final round of the event chaired by GCUDS President M. Zulqarnain Cheena. UCL student and old Ravian Ummar Zia-ud-din was declared the Best English Speaker of the event and awarded with the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medal. The Lahore School of Economics (LSE) secured the overall second position while Military College of Signals, Jehlum declared third at the largest debating event of the year.

In the final round, the serious topics that remained closely contested by the teams were: “Ambition should be made sterner stuff”, “My heart is in coffin”, “They have tied me to the stake, I cannot fly” and “Who is here so vile that will not love his country”. In the humorous category, the participants enthralled the audience with their wit and humour particularly on the topics: “It’s a mad, mad world”, “I took the wrong step years ago”, “Liar or Lawyer, what’s the difference” and “Marriage is the passport to hell”.

After a close contest in the final rounds of Urdu debates, Sumera Asghar of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad was declared the Best Urdu Speaker of the declamation contest, while International Islamic University, Islamabad student Nafeesa Habib bagged the second position. Waheed Iqbal of PAF Academy, Rasalpura was awarded with the Consolation Prize. GCU Debating Society orator student Saad-ul-Hassan closed the House, while Ravians as host did not contest for any trophy or prize.

Addressing the orators from all over Pakistan, Vice Chancellor Prof. Aftab said that said that the co-curricular activities especially debates play a very vital role in grooming of students. He said such declamations taught students how disagree with others while paying respect to their faiths and ideas. Speaking on the occasion, former GCU orator Mr. Aamir Aziz Sayiad said that the level of debating has gone very high in the country in last few decades.

Later, the Chief Guest also gave prize to the winners of the Annual GCU Debates 2010 held last month.