Obituary: Hameed Akhtar passes away

Columnist was suffering from cancer, and breathed his last at the Shaukat Khanam Memorial Hospital.

LAHORE: Hameed Akhtar, a renowned columnist, writer and film director passed away on Monday. He had been suffering from cancer for the last few years of his life. He was 87.

Born as Akhtar Ali in 1924 in Ludhiana, India, he changed his name to Hameed Akhtar in high school. Akhtar joined the Taraqi Pasand Tehreek – a socialist movement – in 1935 in what would be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to left-wing thought. He was a columnist for several prominent Pakistani newspapers, including the Daily Express.

A childhood friend of poets Sahir Ludhianvi and Ibne Insha, Akhtar wrote several books himself, namely Kaal Kothri, Ashnayan Kia Kia, Royedad-e-Anjaman. He also wrote films such as Sookh ka Sapna in 1962 and Praaye Aag in 1971. Akhtar is survived by three daughters, including actress Saba Pervez, and a son.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2011.