KARACHI, Feb 9: Speakers shed light on the life and work of artiste and broadcaster Rizwan Wasti at a condolence reference held to pay homage to him at the Arts Council Karachi on Wednesday. Rizwan Wasti passed away on Jan 24.

Senior television producer Qasim Jalali shared his memories of the late actor with the audience and said he first met him at Radio Pakistan, where Rizwan Wasti broadcast news in English. After that meeting he offered him an important role in the television serial Shama, which he accepted and from then on Rizwan Wasti became a known face all over Pakistan.

He said he was a charming man and had many admirers. He said Wasti was a cultured man who had studied English literature and knew a lot about his subject. It was a pleasure striking up a conversation with him. He said in his last days Rizwan Wasti was perturbed by the health of his daughter and even had to sell his house to meet her treatment expenses.

PTV producer Kazim Pasha talked about Rizwan Wasti's days as a newscaster and said it was his imposing voice that initially impressed him. When he met him in person he found him to be an extremely amiable and hardworking man. He said he got to know him at two levels: first as a co-actor and then as an actor working under his direction, and on both counts found him to be a devoted performer. He was also a compassionate husband and father. He told the audience that PTV had made a programme on the life of Rizwan Wasti which would go on air soon.

Another known TV producer, Bakhtiar Ahmed, said Rizwan Wasti had a well-rounded personality and it saddened him that he's no more. He said he was a graceful human being, and so is his wife. He said the late actor often gave him audio cassettes of classical music. Not only did he love that kind of music but also wanted his friends to appreciate it. He said in one of his (Bakhtiar's) long plays there was the character of UN Secretary General, and he had no one else in mind but Wasti to play that role. He said his loss would always be felt sorely.

Actor Adil Wadia lamented the fact that not many people from the acting fraternity had turned up to share their memories of the actor. He said he was introduced to Rizwan Wasti by actor Latif Kapadia, and both men were now no more in the world. He prayed that Rizwan's daughter Laila recuperate soon.

Actor Anwar Iqbal highlighted the fact that Rizwan Wasti was a straightforward man who never minced words. He said as a young boy he always wanted to meet him and his wish was granted when he was cast alongside him in Shama.

Iqbal Latif, Shehnaz Siddiqui, Irbahim Khan, Sadiq Jafferi and Mehmood Ahmed Khan also spoke.