KARACHI: A collection of short stories — “Ham Ke Khud Tamashai” by Mr Akhlaq Ahmad was launched at Karachi Press Club the other day.

Prof Saher Ansari was in the chair and the speakers included Mr Shakil Adilzada, Mr Ali Haider Malik, Mr Mobin Mirza, and Mr Asif Maalik.

Mr Akhlaq Ahmad, it was told, had two earlier collections to his credit, Khayal Zanjir (1994) and Khaab Saath Rahne Do (1998). Editor of a popular weekly, Mr Ahmad started his career as a journalist in 1980. He has so far translated 500 stories from English into Urdu.

Prof Saher Ansari admired the technique of story telling by Mr Ahamd. “His stories appear to begin where they end,” he remarked. He also praised the prose in the stories and modernity blended with the classical art of story telling.

Mr Shakil Adilzada, known for his unblemished prose writing, praised the stories for their fluency. He lamented over the condition of the creative writers, who were fated to undergo the injustices of life and the “exploitative” employers. That was why, the author could produce a collection of nine stories after five years.

Prof Ali Haider Malik found the theme of ‘love’ common in all the stories (except one written on the terrorist-stricken Karachi). The writer had discovered many forms and shades of love. His treatment of the stories was very impressive.

Mr Mobin Mirza, editor of a quarterly magazine, in his brief discourse defended the case of Urdu fiction, underrated by its detractors that it was on the decline and could never reach “the level of world literature”. He said such remarks were outcome of the superiority complex found in some critics and quoted the story collection appearing in these times, including those published by such stalwarts as Ghulam Abbas, Manto and others. He was all praise for Mr Ahmad’s stories.

Mr Asif Maalik said Mr Ahmad was a successful story- teller, and his style in narration and choice of subjects was remarkable.

The launching ceremony was well attended. Zabe Azkar Hussain, Secretary Adbi Committee of the KPC, thanked the guest and also spoke on the merits of Mr Ahmad’s stories. Mr Iniq Ahmad did the compering. —Hasan Abidi