Twitter: Imran Abbas is an Urdu poet!

Published October 25, 2009

Now that's interesting. On Oct 18, actor Imran Abbas was on a late-nite show on PTV hosted by poet and playwright Wasi Shah. The show is called Raat Gaye and usually has a man of letters, along with a singer, as guest.

Seeing Imran Abbas there took many people by surprise, particularly when they came to know that the actor tries his hand at Urdu poetry. He had brought pieces of paper on the programme on which ghazals and nazms by known verse-wielders and himself were scribbled. He narrated them, albeit in a rush smothering some of the words, on the show. Some of his own poems were not bad, and had the metrical balance that's a prerequisite for poetry.

Imran triggered the debate that actors in Pakistan nowadays don't like to read, which is why their efforts lack poignancy while acting (or something to that effect). Actress Saina Saeed also joined the show by phoning in, agreeing with Imran Abbas that since some of the stars acquire popularity at an early stage of their career without having a book-reading background, they don't deem it fit to study literature to hone their skills.

Now the query that springs to mind like a Ghalib's couplet if Imran Abbas is into literature and stuff, what has he so far been doing on TV? Which one of his plays indicated that he's a literature buff? It's only when he appeared alongside Wasi Shah that we came to know the actor's fondness for poetry.

Opinion

Respite needed

Respite needed

All one can fear is a familiar accounting exercise that aims to extract a few more rupees from a narrow, weary economic base.

Editorial

Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...
JAAC ban
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

JAAC ban

Though the JAAC’s demands are open to scrutiny, banning any political organisation — as long as it remains committed to peaceful activism — is undemocratic.
GB election
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

GB election

It is important that whichever party ultimately forms the government puts the needs of the people of GB above everything else.
ODI win
07 Jun, 2026

ODI win

AT last, the Pakistan cricket team had something to celebrate: a One-day International series victory against...