LAHORE: Veteran columnist, playwright and poet Munnu Bhai says he has a strong belief in the respect and honour of women.

He said this while talking to journalists at an informal gathering at the Lahore Press Club on Friday.

“I had no scandal in life, though I had broad interaction with many showbiz female personalities”. He said he had a belief that the fairer sex should be given due respect.

He said he had an extensive journey of journalism spanning over many decades as he joined the field in the 50s.

Throughout his career he met many personalities and had interaction with different people, including film and TV actresses, since he would also write plays for the television, he said.

Munnu Bhai said the first salary he drew as a journalist was only Rs50. He recalled the days when columns were not written for political gains.

Senior journalist Khawar Naeem Hashmi said that Munnu Bhai was the name of a belief.

He said that Munnu Bhai would stand at the top if a comparison was drawn among the present day columnists.

Another senior journalist Imtiaz Rashid said he had spent a long time with Munnu Bhai and found him an upright and a charismatic journalist.

He said a book was needed to cover his works and personality.

Munu Bhai was presented a bouquet by the press club office bearers.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2016