Art and Books

Renowned novelist Ishtiaq Ahmed passes away at 74

Ahmed died from a heart attack at the Karachi airport

Web Desk November 17, 2015

EXPRESS NEWS screengrab

Renowned fiction novelist Ishtiaq Ahmed died of a heart attack on Tuesday while he was waiting to board a flight to Lahore at the Karachi airport.

Ahmed, who was 74 years old at the time of his death, was an author of children's literature, known mostly among the youth for his suspenseful Urdu novels featuring inspector Jamshed and Kamran Mirza and the famous characters of Mehmood, Farooq, Farzana and Shoki, Express News reported.

History and fiction: ‘Pakistani writers are introspective’

He penned around 800 novels, most of which centred around the theme of spies and detectives.

The novelist wrote his first book in 1973 and was at height of his fame during the 1970s and all through the 90s.

Ahmed leaves behind his wife, five sons and three daughters.

COMMENTS (30)

ABDUL MAJEED | 8 years ago | Reply Ishtaq Ahmed was my class-fellow one to 5th class. He was very intelligent and talkative.He proved himself that “struggle is the key of success” in his whole life. His novels and idea creativity always spark as wrote in the novels. Myself and every one love him lot and always remember him in ours prays. May his Soul rest in peace … Ameen

Umer | 8 years ago | Reply :Ammar:Pathan Khan: Mr .ishtiaq Ahmed was one of those famous writers who used this medium of fiction for improvement of society ... indulge his readers to be more religous, more country loving and optimistic about their future. Few people didnot like his idea of putting religion in his fiction especially qadiani cult , who seems to have taken his blows at personal level , however, i still think that much religion has been taught in schools aswell . One should not be offended by such anecdotal idealistic projections of writers , so much so that you call him "bad writer" at his death day. Perhaps , as a courtesy of his deeds and service to pakistani nation ...we should hold our grudges for some time later.

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Muhammad Saeed Alam | 9 years ago | Reply He prove himself that "struggle is the key of success" in his whole life. His novels and idea creativity always spark as wrote in the novels. Myself and every one love him lot and always remember him in ours prays. May his Soule rest in peace ... Ameen

Monam Hayat | 9 years ago | Reply Very sad, he was my one of the favourite novelist ....... His novels espically 'khas number' are amazing ....one of the best children author of suspense Urdu novels..... Will going to miss him... May his soul rest in peace. Ameen

raheel | 9 years ago | Reply i remember how would i go to a public library nearby my home and eagerly look for his novels to spend my weekend... how could the children of social network now a days know the charm of diving into the world full of mysteries and suspense created by Ishtiaq Ahmad

zain | 9 years ago | Reply He was the faviorute writers of my parents. I read one of his novels and they were great............... It's a loss of a great man. May god rest his soul in peace

muhammad Irshad Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply a brave man, a best fiction writer although his big work on Islamic history use nick name Abdullah Farani write the complete history of Muhammad Peace be upon him, khilafat e Rashida. these work is as sadqa e jaria. May Allah rest his soul in peace.

Zia-Ur-Rehman | 9 years ago | Reply May his soul rest in Peace.......He was one of my favourite novelist.......

faisal adnan | 9 years ago | Reply May Allah rest his soul in peace. My whole childhood revolved around reading his novels and khaas numbers.

Ibrahim Sherkoti | 9 years ago | Reply He always was a mentor to the Pakistani teenagers. I can't bare his death as it was for Hakim Saeed Shahed. They both are legends who spent their lives for children and youth of Pakistan.

Samir | 9 years ago | Reply He was my favourite author for many years. I used to repeatedly visit my local book shop every month waiting for his novels to arrive. Eventually I subscribed to his novels and used to receive 3 novels a month for a long time. He was a prolific writer and an extremely humble person. I used to write to him nearly monthly and he would reply every time in his own hand till one day he wrote apologizing that due to writing 4-5 novels a month and replying personally to mails, he had developed a wrist problem and had finally hired a person that he was now dictating to. He used to do much of his creative work sitting in the mosque. May Allah grant him eternal peace.

Ammar | 9 years ago | Reply @Pathan Khan Agree bro. He was one of those writers who put sectarian hatred subconsciously in the minds of youth slowly and steadyly.

sua | 9 years ago | Reply Very sad news. Makes me tearful. He was one of the personalities one would like to meet in this small life. At loss of words and just tears rolling down. May Allah grant him jannah

Tariq Haque | 9 years ago | Reply My youth was full of his novels. I used to love them. May he rest in peace and in Jannah.

Pathan Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Not that fast my fellow commentators!!. Mr. Ishtiaq was surrounded by religious groups, as he started to poison young minds by adding a page or two of sectarian propaganda in his story books. Not all writers are good this is the moral of the story.

MUNIBA SAFDAR | 9 years ago | Reply may his soul rest in peace ameen

bechari-awam | 9 years ago | Reply Really sad to hear that news. i grew up reading his novels and was considered as an authority on his characters. I used to run a small library during my middle school time and lent kids his novel charging them 50paisa per day ;). Also won a couple of 100 rupees for answering the questions a few time. still remember circling around the bookstore on 20th of month in anticipation of grabbing the upcoming khas number. Lost in touch once joined an engineering school and also due to his novels getting more radicalized in mid-late 90s.

Kashif | 9 years ago | Reply I must have read all his novels and series till 1987.. wow he was a brilliant suspense writer.. Inna lillahe wa inna illehe rajioon.. may he resf in eternal peace.

Babar | 9 years ago | Reply Indeed he was one of the best. Would save all my pocket money to be able to buy the 8 book series every month. Does any body remember the marathons: the 2000/3000 pagers...they were massive..read them all

faisal | 9 years ago | Reply Great loss! may Allah rest him in eternal peace, in my childhood i just couldn't spend a single day without inspector jamshed, kamran mirza, & shoki novels those were the days :(

Ali Altaf Saleem | 9 years ago | Reply May his soul rest in peace and may Allah Almighty grant him Jannat.

hashim | 9 years ago | Reply Sad news.i grew up reading his novels.and i have still 300 novels of ishtiaq ahmad. i consider him among ibne safi,Agatha Kristi,arther canon dial,J.K Rowling and J.R.R.Tolkin

ayakalim | 9 years ago | Reply May Allah give sabar to his family and give him the highest of rewards. I am extremely hearbroken at this news. His work was such a huge part of my childhood and one of my earliest inspirations.

khalid | 9 years ago | Reply May Allah (swt) grant him paradise. 800 Novels is a great achievement.

Furqan Ahmed Malik | 9 years ago | Reply He left a void... A legend.. A true Patriot Pakistani and a true Muslim.. He taught by his writings the true colors of culturally rich Islamic family values, Islam, Pakistaniyat, Science fiction and character building for the youth.... I have learned a lot from his books, a true spiritual teacher... انا لله وانا اليه راجعون

Asif Khan | 9 years ago | Reply "Inna Lilllah e wa Inna Aleih e Rajaioon". He was excellent writer who enamored a generation with his excellent ethical suspense novels. Those who have read his novels can never forget Sir Ishtiaq Ahmed. May Allah bless his soul and place him Jannat al firdos.

Truth Detector | 9 years ago | Reply Grew up reading his novels. He was great writer who not only inspired reading habits but always had good moral lesson in his novels. May he rest in Peace !!

Neelo | 9 years ago | Reply Back in the days, i used to wonder how my life will proceed if I don't get to read his novels. His novels were addictive.

Blunt | 9 years ago | Reply RIP. Childhood memories !!!

Muneeb | 9 years ago | Reply May his soul RIP. His novels were amazing.

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