LAHORE, Nov 15: Paying tributes to the late Mumtaz Mufti for his services for literature, speakers at a book launching threw light on various aspects of his life.

Columnist Ahmad Bashir, who has been life-long friend of the late novelist, said they both had to show patience on many occasions to keep the friendship intact.

He disputed the claim of some speakers that the late Mumtaz Mufti was a sufi or that he was a follower of sufism. Instead, he said, he just wanted to remain in the company of sufis.

Columnist Intizar Husain said one could divide his life into two segments. In the first era, he followed the ideology of Sigmund Freud and only Mr Bashir was witness to this period. While in the second period he turned to sufism after meeting Qudratullah Shahab.

Senator S. M. Zafar said Mumtaz Mufti gave the message of love.

Poet Amjad Islam Amjad said the great writer would always recount virtues of even his enemies.

Asghar Nadeem Syed said the late Mumtaz Mufti trained readers through his literary work.

Begum Perveen Atif said he was against the capitalist banking system while his writing style was close to that of Ghalib.

Poet Akhtar Saen recited a poem he had written for the late Mumtaz Mufti, while Prof Aqeel Rubi, Abdul Karim Khalid and Neelam Ahmad Bashir also spoke on the occasion. —Staff Reporter