You will live on, Moin

Moin Akhtar (MA) is with us no more. As I sit here, I think of all the years of entertainment, joy and laughter he gave us that one shall cherish forever. Over the last few days, our press has been full of tributes to a man that rose to iconic heights due to his God-gifted talent as a tremendous entertainer.

My association with Moin Akhtar was that of a younger colleague as I entered the world of television. Looking back, I always remember him as a talented, kind, helpful human being. These are the qualities that one shall always remember him by whenever one watches repeats of the great works he has left behind to keep us laughing, in the archives of entertainment history.

In all the tributes to Moin Akhtar, I feel it is important for us to reach out to his family and specifically his children. I write this note in memory of MA and out of respect for his loved ones. One would, like to tell his children that we, as the entertainment fraternity, shall always cherish the memory of MA and we, as a nation, shall always continue to smile at the mention of his name for that is what he spent his life doing, making us smile.

MA would have wanted it no other way. He would have wanted us to remember him in happy thoughts and continue to cherish his loved ones, for they are blessed to carry a name known around the world of a father that shall always live in the hearts and minds of every Pakistani. He may have left us too soon, but his spirit shall always remain amongst us.

As a great showman that served Pakistan well for over 40 years, he is our national hero. He made us laugh through many a difficult times. During his life, he worked for us during wars, terrorism, earthquakes and floods. MA never gave up making us smile as a nation through difficult times. Just like Faiz, Habib Jalib, Noorjehan and many other icons, MA shall always be remembered as a messenger of happiness, peace and courage.

He will be loved and remembered for his power as a national celebrity to unite a nation divided by social and political turmoil. Laughter being the best medicine, MA was a doctor to our hearts and souls and for this, we shall thank him always. May he rest in peace.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2011.