KARACHI: A couple of books from known newspaper columnist Dr S. M. Moin Qureshi were launched on Saturday.

Interior Minister Gen Moinuddin Haider (retd) presided over the function but did not stay much longer. The speakers scheduled for the evening, however, turned up despite a transport strike in the city to address a small number of audience.

Ba Qalam Khud is Qureshi’s tenth book, comprising his humour writings, and East is East, his travel account of Sri Lanka, is his eleventh publication. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner was also present.

Azhar Hasan Siddiqui, also a humour writer, whose Sunday columns are widely read, presented his paper written for the occasion. Rasool Ahmed Kaleemi, a known poet, also a stylist in prose writing, addressed the audience. Najma Khan, a poet, and Zahid Husain read out their papers. Both Dr Qureshi and Asghar Zaidi, the latter representing the publishers, also addressed and thanked the audience.—HA