The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) concluded its ‘Silent Hercules’ student reel competition, an initiative designed to spotlight the contributions of its labourers and custodial staff, culminating in an award ceremony where the university”s president underscored that divine blessings and piety, not worldly rank, are the true measures of success.
According to a report by the university today, the event, titled ‘IIUI Student Reel Contest 2025 – The Silent Hercules: Builders Behind the Scenes,’ was conceptualized and executed by the university’s Protocol and Public Relations Department. The competition was launched following directives from IIUI President, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed, to celebrate the essential, behind-the-scenes work of the university’s support staff.
In the final round of the competition, a jury evaluated 14 shortlisted video entries, selecting three for top positions. The evaluation criteria included creativity, storytelling, technical quality, and relevance to the theme of honouring the institution”s “unsung heroes.”
Syeda Zainab Tehseen and her team, including Robina Nadeem and Kiran Awan, secured the first prize. The second-place award went to Muzzamil Hussain, Ali Asghar Hanjra, and Muhammad Rehan, while Saqib Alam and Muhammad Fawad Khan received the third prize.
Shields and certificates were presented to the winning student teams and, notably, to the employees who were featured in the recognized reels.
Addressing the gathering, President Alahmed stated that Allah has established taqwa as the genuine standard of superiority and that worldly ranks hold no value after death. Quoting a Hadith, he noted that the poor will predominantly enter heaven and stressed that teamwork is more important to him than designations. He affirmed his support for all university employees and pledged to continue backing activities that highlight the dignity of hard work.
Prof. Alahmed commended the students for their enthusiasm and creativity and thanked the judges and participants for their involvement. He gave special acknowledgment to Dr. Asma Mansoor, the chief organizer and In-Charge of Protocol and PR, and her team members Muhammad Nauman Awan and Shahida Khanum for their meticulous organization of the function.
The judging panel consisted of senior journalist and content creator Fiaz Mahmood; Dr. Asma Mansoor; Dr. Qurat ul Ain Malik and Dr. Rooh ul Amin, both Assistant Professors at the Department of Media and Communication Studies; and Dr. Inaam ul Haq, Director of Administration. The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Saleh Sulaiman A. Alghofaili, Advisor to the President IIUI.