TV world mourns demise of child star Umer Shah

Umer Shah, the younger brother of child star Ahmad Shah, passed away in the early hours of Monday, the family confirmed through social media posts.

The news was announced by Ahmad himself, who called his sibling the "little shining star" of the family. "Umer Shah has returned to Allah Almighty," he wrote on Instagram, asking fans to remember the family in their prayers.

Umer gained recognition for appearing alongside Ahmad in the Ramazan transmission. The duo was loved by audiences for their playful banter and cheerful appearances, building on Ahmad's fame from the viral "Peechay dekho" video.

The tragedy marks the second major loss for the Shah family, who had earlier mourned the death of their youngest daughter Ayesha in 2023.

According to anchor Waseem Badami, doctors confirmed that Umer suffered a cardiovascular arrest after complications caused by vomiting, which entered his lungs. The incident reportedly occurred around the time of Fajr prayer on Monday.

Tributes poured in from celebrities, colleagues, and fans after news of the child star's death spread online. Fahad Mustafa said he was "speechless" at the loss.

Actor Adnan Siddiqui remembered Umer as "a beam of light, joy and innocence," writing: "Constantly running up with that big smile, always hugging everyone with that boundless energy… it feels impossible that he's no longer with us."

Former Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and actor Areeba Habib also posted condolences, while social media child star Muhammad Shiraz said losing Umer felt like "losing a part of myself".

Actors Aijaz Aslam, Shaista Lodhi, Hina Altaf, Mahira Khan, and Momal Sheikh expressed grief, calling Umer "a little angel" whose presence lit up screens and gatherings alike.

The Shah family hails from Dera Ismail Khan. In one of Ahmad's final Instagram posts before the tragedy, he shared a picture of himself with Umer in school uniform. Fans recalled the sibling duo's vibrant presence on television, noting that their favourite shows "will not be the same without Umer's smile and jolly spirit".