Appeal for help: First Sindhi host on PTV in critical condition

Haidery’s condition is not stable as he has stopped eating and the medicines are not working.

KARACHI:

Shamsheer Ali alias Shamsherul Haidery, a renowned Sindhi poet, author, journalist, dramatist and the first Sindhi host on Pakistan Television, has been admitted at a private hospital for the last 28 days in critical condition.

Haidery’s son Javed informed The Express Tribune that his mother Kaneez Fatima was also admitted albeit at a separate private hospital last Saturday. There has been considerable difficulty managing the distance.

“The doctors have diagnosed bone cancer in my father. We are paying ourselves but it would be difficult for us to move him to another hospital [closer to my mother],” Javed said. “My father has several friends in different fields but few have visited him in this condition.”

Haidery’s condition is not stable as he has stopped eating and, according to Javed, the medicines did not seem to be working. “He is at the last stage,” he wept.

Haidery started his career in journalism when few people knew of its importance. His writing skills were appreciated because he could write fluently in Sindhi, Urdu and English.

Azadar Hussain Jafferi, Haidery’s nephew, told The Express Tribune that the entire family spent their days and nights at two hospitals. “My uncle and his wife lost their eyesight at the same time. Both are in critical condition. I appeal to the government to help them,” he requested.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2012.