Playwright Haseena Moin passes away

Haseena Moin, an acclaimed dramatist, playwright and scriptwriter, who brought forward a strong woman to the world of gentle and refined romance with an unmatchable art of gripping story-telling, died in Karachi on Thursday night.

Moin died of cardiac arrest, according to her family. She was 79. Her funeral prayers were offered in North Nazimabad, attended by attended by people from all walks of life, including Urdu literature, and arts. She was laid to rest in Sakhi Hassan cemetery.

Born on November 20, 1941, in Kanpur, she graduated from the Government College for Women in 1960, and did her Masters in Arts from the University of Karachi in 1963. She began writing during her final years of graduation.

Moin had extensively authored dramas for the Pakistan Televisionm which were all blockbusters. Starting with “Shehzori”, she authored drama serials Tanhaiyyan, Dhoop Kinaray, An Kahi, Uncle Urfi, Zair Zabar Paesh, Aina, Bandish, Aansu, Parosi, Kehr, Kiran Kahani, and Aahat in over 50 years.

She had authored the story for a Pakistani movie, Kahin Pyar Na Hojaey, and scripted dialogues for chocolate hero Waheed Murad’s movie Yahan Se Wahan Tak, and Nazdikiyan. She had also written dialogues for the Bollywood movie ‘Henna’.

In recognition of her contribution to the world of Pakistani arts and literature, the government of Pakistan had conferred the Presidential Pride of Performance award on her in 1987. Till her death, she was serving as the vice president of the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi.

Meanwhile, tributes poured in over her demise. “The sudden demise of Haseena is tragic for me,” renowned writer and poet Kishwar Naheed said. “Hasina was a brave woman with strong nerves. She was serious and took life seriously,” she added.

Recalling the memories of the playwright, Naheed said: “We used to be a bit displeased with her when she began writing. ‘Did you see how I earned respect to the women’, she would say,” Naheed told The Express Tribune.

“She was a torchbearer of women’s rights yet she always used polite language. Her dramas were a delight for the entire family. No one ever wrote such wonderful drama before or after her. Back-to-back famous serials penned by the prolific and acclaimed writer reached heights of fame and popularity,” said renowned Urdu poet and writer Iftikhar Arif.

The office-bearers and members of the governing boy of the Arts Council also sent their condolences on the demise of Haseena Moin. They also placed a flower wreath on Haseena Moin’s grave on Friday.

The passing of Haseena Moin followed the death of Kanwal Naseer, Pakistan’s first female television announcer. “We have lost two incredible women and legends of the Pakistani TV industry, Haseena Moin and Kanwal Naseer,” the US embassy said in a tweet.