Glowing tributes paid to legendary Umer Sharif

Friends, family, and admirers mourn the loss of the ‘king of laughter’

PHOTO: FILE

The Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) Karachi held a condolence reference for the comedy legend Umer Sharif at the Jaun Elia Lawn.

The event was attended by Umer’s family, colleagues, friends, admirers, and various showbiz personalities. On the occasion president ACP President Mohammad Ahmed Shah and other participants acknowledged and eulogized the outstanding contributions of the late artist towards the entertainment industry of Pakistan. Shah said Umer spent his entire career at the ZA Bukhari auditorium of ACP. Umer made this place alive and he will always be remembered in the council. “We will name a corner of the Arts Council after Umer where all his cassettes and posters will be kept,” Shah said adding he was the only artist who gained so much popularity without being on the screen.

To acknowledge Umer’s massive contribution a video was also shown in the event compiling the phenomenal scenes of Umer’s career and video messages of the artists paying condolence to the departed soul including Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar, Raza Murad, Raju Shrivaster, Singer Diler Mehdi, Film Star Reema Khan, and Zaiba Ali. Speaking on the occasion ACP’s Vice President Munawar Saeed Umer respected his elders so much that hardly anyone did. “People praised Umer for his commendable performance on stage; they related to his dialogues, he did not say anything that people couldn’t connect with.

Umer was an artist of the era when Moin Akhter was already established but this competition highlighted his creativity further,” said senior journalist Mazhar Abbas. Aurangzaib Laghari said Umer was a nice friend and a great companion. He taught his little ones with great compassion and patronage. Artist Younas Memon said, Umer was the king of creativity since his childhood. “Umer’s book launch was planned to be held at Abdulllah Shah Ghazi, I didn’t know that his funeral prayer would be held there,” Memon said.

Comedian Pervaiz Siddiqui said, Umer Sharif is a covenant we have learned a lot from him, and people will keep learning from him through his work. Actor Ayaz Khan says Umer was a patriotic person his love for the homeland was commendable. He wanted to live and die in Pakistan. Salomi, who played numerous roles with Umer, said: “I request you to remember Umer in your prayers. There are so many memories of Umer and us connected with this place, I urge Arts Council to name a corner after him. of this organisation after Umer Sharif.”

Artist Saleem Afridi said: “I was his junior, he used to appreciate me. I will never forget the love and respect he gave me.” Senior actor Nazar Hussain said: “I met him in the early 70’s he was a passionate young boy and also was devout Muslim who used to pray five times a day. He proved himself not only on stage but on television and cinema also.” Umer Sharif’s sons were also present on the occasion, his elder son Jawad Umer said: “I was also his admirer. Wherever he went in the world he kept holding the flag of Pakistan. He rejected the US citizenship saying that his green passport is more valuable.

My father put smiles on people’s faces all over his life. I promise to fulfill his dream of establishing the hospital Maa.” ACP Joint Secretary Asjad Bukhari, Iqbal Lateef, Shakeel Khan, Bashir Saddouzai, Kashif Grami, Dr Qaiser Sajjad, Saadat Jaffari were also present at the event whereas Rufi Anum, Zaheer Khan, Mujtaba Naqvi, Ali Hassan, Irfan Malik, Arshad Mahmood, Hassan Jhangir, Zakir Mastana, and Saleem Shahzad also expressed their views.

Poet Mansoor Sahir paid homage to the late artist by naming his poetry after Umer Sharif. The event was moderated by Noman Khan.

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