October 28, 2006	Saturday	Shawwal 4, 1427

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LAHORE, Oct 27: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has expressed his grief and sorrow over the death of former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan. In a condolence message, he said the late Ishaq Khan was a top administrator, a patriotic Pakistani and a sagacious leader. Allah almighty had given him a lot of wisdom and courage which always benefited the country in different sectors. He led a successful and full life.

The chief minister said he fully shared the grief with his family. He also expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the demise of prominent intellectual, humourist and poet Ziaul Haq Qasmi.

In a condolence message to his brother, Ataul Haq Qasmi, the chief minister said the late Ziaul Haq Qasmi was a distinguished poet whose services for the promotion of humour writing would long be remembered.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal deputy secretary-general and Jamaat-i-Islami naib amir Liaquat Baloch and PML-N secretary-general Iqbal Jhagra have described the death of Ishaq Khan as an irreparable national loss.

Liaquat Baloch said the nation had lost an eminent personality with his death.

Iqbal Jhagra said the late Ishaq Khan would always be remembered for his services.

Prominent writer Amjad Islam Amjad said the late Ziaul Haq Qasmi was not only the elder brother of his friend and columnist Ataul Haq Qasmi but had the honour of setting the tradition of annual ‘comic mushaira’ in the country. These gatherings of poets continued for a week.

He said the late Ziaul Haq Qasmi started writing at the age of 40 and established his own style of political satire in poetry.

He was a very good organiser and compere and wrote remarkable poetry about the contemporary events.

He not only started the publication of humorous journal Zarafat but also organised a ‘Mazah conference’ every year regularly.