HYDERABAD, Jan 23: The Sindhi Language Authority remained closed on Friday to mourn the death of writer, research scholar and in charge encyclopaedia cell of the authority, Shaikh Mohammad Ismail.

A condolence reference was also held under the chairmanship of Prof Dr Qasim Bughio. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bughio said Shaikh Ismail was an expert on Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sindhi language and folk literature and his services in the cause of language and literature could never be forgotten.

He said at the age of 80, he continued to work for the promotion of Sindhi language. He said Sindhi language and literature had suffered irreparable loss in the passing away of Shaikh Ismail.

The others who paid tribute to the services of Shaikh Ismail included Khalid Azad Bughio, Khan Mohammad Jarwar, Moin Qadri, Khuda Bux Chanhio, Faiz Mohammad Pitafi and others.

Later, the entire staff of the authority expressed condolences with Shaikh Aziz and attended the funeral rites. They also laid a floral wreath on the grave of Shaikh Ismail. The mortal remains of the departed soul were laid to rest at the Tando Agha graveyard.

A large number of writers, journalists and elite of the city, friends and relatives including Hameed Sindhi, Taj Joyo, Mir Haider Talpur, Mir Rafique Talpur, Inam Shaikh, Dr Habibullah Siddiqui, Nafees Ahmed Nashad, Javed Mirza, Nisar Hussaini, Sikandar Baloch and the Dawn staff of Hyderabad bureau attended the last rites of Shaikh Ismail.

Sindhi Adabi Sanagat secretary-general Taj Yoyo laid a floral wreath on the grave of Shaikh Ismail. A condolence reference was also held at the Sindhi Adabi Board.