ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Renowned poet and columnist Ziaul Qasmi passed away in Karachi on Wednesday night due to cardiac arrest. One of the country’s celebrated writers, Qasmi has left behind a widow, three sons and four daughters to mourn his death.

Born in Amritsar on February 5, 1935, Qasmi had migrated to Pakistan along with his family after the Partition and lived in Karachi. His father, Maulana Bahauddin Qasmi, was an eminent religious figure of Amritsar and his brother, Ataul Haq Qasmi is also a prominent writer and poet.

The late Qasmi had done his Masters in Urdu literature. He had a great sense of humour which he used in his poetry and earned fame. Rag-i-Zarafat, Zia Paashian and Chhairr Khaanian are some of his works. He also edited the country’s first humour journal Zarafat.

His serious poetry work, Haray Bharay Zakhm, was also widely acclaimed.

Iftikhar Arif, Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, has expressed his grief and sorrow over the demise of the renowned poet.

In a statement issued here on Friday, he said Qasmi’s death had deprived the nation of a unique poet of Urdu language.

Iftikhar described him as ‘a pioneer comic poet’, saying he was also founder of his specific style.

A condolence meeting was also held at the office of the PAL Resident Director, Agha Noor Mohammad Pathan where rich tributes were paid to him and his services.—APP/PPI