PESHAWAR, Jan 26: Legendary fiction writer Saadat Hasan Manto was paid rich tribute at a seminar here on Friday.

The speakers were unanimous in saying that writers like Saadat Hasan Manto are born in decades, and that he took Urdu fiction to the peak and hence became immortal.

The seminar was held under the auspices of the Pakistan Academy of Letters at Urdu Science Board Auditorium here on Thursday evening.

In his presidential address, prominent poet Prof Mohsin Ehsan said that Manto was one of the creators of short fiction writing in Urdu.

“Manto's writings are a beacon of light for students and teachers of literature alike,” he said.

America-based fiction writer and novelist Irshad Ahmed Siddiqi, who was the guest of honour, said that Manto is a symbol in fiction writing. He said no other writer in the sub-continent could achieve the popularity that Manto did, he added.

Dr Mohammad Azam, Prof Dr Khatir Ghaznavi, Prof Sohail Ahmed, Atiq Siddiqi, Misal Khan Rahi Khattak and Murtaza Khan Shaheen also spoke on the occasion and highlighted various aspects of Manto's life and achievements.

They said Manto used his pen against social evils and pinpointed hypocritical attitudes in society.—PPI