RAWALPINDI: Renowned fiction writer and novelist Khalida Hussain passed away on Friday due to complications from a long illness. She was in her 70s.

She had been suffering from various diseases after the tragic death of her only son and husband last year.

Her funeral prayer was held at a local mosque in G-8/2 which was attended by family members, friends and senior writers. The late writer was buried in H-9 graveyard after Asr prayers.

Ms Hussain was known as one of the best fiction writers and novelists in Urdu Literature. She rose to fame in the 60s with her short stories and became a trend setter. Kaghazi Ghat was her last masterpiece in Urdu literature.

Before marriage, she wrote under the name Khalida Asghar.

“Khalida Hussain was the best fiction writer in the country after Intizar Hussain. She always wrote stories on real life and introduced a new trend in Urdu fiction writing,” said poet Iftikhar Arif while talking to Dawn.

Mr Arif said Khalida Hussain’s death was a great loss to Urdu literature, adding that she was a serious writer who worked for women and literature.

“Her work depicted maturity and sensitivity. She focused on social issues and lives of people in her stories,” he said.

Mr Arif said he and Kishwar Naheed visited her just a few days ago.

“She gave us her last book Kaghazi Ghat which is the best novel in modern times,” he said.

Famous writer Hameed Shahid, who had compiled her short stories, told Dawn that Ms Hussain stayed away from publicity.

“Khalida Hussain started her work with short stories that revolved around international crises and their implications on the lives of people,” he said.

She knew how to narrate stories which made it difficult for people to ignore, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2019