PESHAWAR: The Cultural Journalists Forum (CJF) has demanded provision of free medical treatment to the noted senior TV comedian, Murad Ali alias Gulbali, who is suffering from hepatitis-C and other serious health complications.

The demand was made at a meeting chaired by CJF president Ihtisham Toru here on Sunday. The participants appealed to the KP culture directorate, philanthropists and diehard fans of the renowned artist to arrange free medical treatment for him who has been bed-ridden at his home located in Ramdaz Bazaar in Peshawar city for few weeks.

The meeting also shown concern over the attitude of the KP government towards artistes, singers and writers of the terror-hit province. They said that king of Pashto ghazal, Khayal Mohammad, had also been bed-ridden at his residence for more than three months. Not a single member of the culture directorate has enquired after the health of the senior Pashto ghazal maestro, regretted the participants.

They said that a private Pashto TV channel had recently conducted a fundraising show for the ailing artist, but the KP government had not paid any attention to him.

Tariq Jamal, noted TV actor and president of the artist’s organisation ‘AWAZ’, told DAWN that artists, singers and musicians had been living in penury, but the PTI-led government in KP had totally ignored them.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arts Council’s chairman Zardad Khan alias Bulbul said that the KP culture directorate should resolve problems of the artists on priority basis.

The 60-year old Gulbali from Bala Manrai area of Peshawar has performed in more than 400 TV plays and stage shows as his comic career spreads over four decades. Ismael Shahid, another senior comedian and lifelong companion of Murad Ali, in his remarks, pointed out that he had worked in numerous Pashto plays and shows with Mr Gulbali who provided a quality humour to the public.

“I make a strong appeal for financial assistance to Mr Gulbali,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2014