KARACHI, Oct 9: I.A. Khan, known as Iftikhar Adani in the literary circles, died of a heart attack here on Saturday. He was 83.

Mr Adani has left behind a son and two daughters. He was buried on the premises of Abdullah Shah Ghazi's mausoleum in Clifton after Isha prayers.

He was a fourth-generation descendant of Nawab Shaifta and son of Nawab M. Ismail Khan, an associate of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Mr Adani wrote several books, the most famous of which was 'Ghalib Shanasi ke Karishme'.

Mr Adani also co-authored a book with Prof Ralph Russell for which they rendered into Urdu and English verses, respectively, selected Persian verses by Asadullah Ghalib. In his last days he was busy in writing a book on a mystic of the Qadria silsila.

He was a CSP officer and held several important positions in government.

According to Jamiluddin Aali, Mr Adani was an intellectual who produced work of high academic value. "The Pakistani literary scene will never be the same as Mr Adani is no more," he said while talking to Dawn.

Soyem will be held on Monday between Asar and Maghrib prayers at his residence - 5B Seaview, South 'C' Avenue, Defence Housing Authority.