Lahore: Celebrated writer Marghoob Ali Rahat, popularly known as MA Rahat passed away in Lahore on Monday. He was 76.

Rahat penned down some 1,500 or so suspense, crime stories and novels in different periodicals and magazines. He was admitted to Jinnah Hospital a week or so ago after his condition deteriorated and he went into coma. He had brain tumor and had developed medical complications.

Though Rahat was born and raised in Karachi, but owing to his writing business he moved to Lahore some 15 years ago.

His close friend and publisher Muhammad Ali Qureshi told Dawn: “Rahat wrote countless crime and suspense stories, including Sadioon Ka Beta, Taloot, Kalay Charagh, Muqaddas Nishan and Tilisam Zadi.”

Mr Qureshi regretted that in spite of being a good writer, he was ignored by the government.

Rahat is survived by five sons and four daughters.

His funeral was held at Awan Town and he was laid to rest at Karim Block graveyard.

His qul will be held at Masjid Rizwan, Awan Town, tomorrow (Wednesday).

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2017