LAHORE, Aug 29: Poet Ahmad Rahi was shifted to a private hospital on Thursday when his condition deteriorated.

The legendary Ahmad Rahi had been suffering from paralysis for the last seven months. He had been admitted to the Lyallpur Ward of the Mayo Hospital for the last over a week.

He was shifted to a private hospital off Jail Road on Thursday noon after he had developed some respiratory problems. A duty doctor at the intensive care unit of the hospital told Dawn that the condition of the poet was slightly stable. “He is not out of danger yet.”

APP ADDS: Born in the Eastern Punjab city of Amritsar in 1929, Rahi is considered a close associate of renowned progressive poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. He wrote songs for more than 1,900 Punjabi movies during his career spanning over more than five decade in Pakistan. The late Melody Queen Noor Jehan sung around 1,700 songs of the legendary Rahi.

The poet went into seclusion after his Temple Road house caught fire early this year that destroyed much of his belongings.

Later, he shifted to a rented house in Cantonment area where he had been living with his wife and son Suleman.

“Doctors are battling to save the extremely fragile Rahi who has lost speaking power as well as orientation,” Suleman, who has been looking after Rahi said. He appealed to the people to pray for the health of Mr Rahi.