Remembering those who left us this year

Let’s not forget to pay tribute to the prominent people who made a difference with their contributions.

As the year comes to end, let’s not forget to pay tribute to the prominent people that made a difference with their contributions to the media or fashion industry.

Although they have passed on, they will always be remembered as the heroes of our country and the faces that have represented Pakistan all over the world. The Express Tribune brings you artists that lost their lives in the year 2012.

Mehdi Hassan Khan (1927-2012) - Ghazal singer/playback singer

The “King of Ghazal” was his title, as he was awarded by the Indian and Pakistani government for his songs. He was one of the leading singers in the Pakistani film industry along with Ahmed Rushdi. Some of his awards include Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance and Hilal-e-Imtiaz. Khan passed away in a private hospital on June 13, 2012.

Tahira Wasti (1944 — 2012) - Actor



She started her TV career with the drama Jaib Qatra in 1968, based on a novel by Saadat Manto. She was best known for her role of Isabella of Castile in the drama Shaheen. Wasti was married to an actor and English newscaster Rizwan Wasti. At the age of 68, she died of a natural cause on March 11.

Tamanna Begum (1937– 2012) - Actor



At the age of 75, Tamanna Begum passed away due to a prolonged illness. After she started her career in Radio Pakistan, she soon moved on to theatre and films and in later age to TV dramas. She was a seasoned actor and a very prominent face in the media industry.

Hajra Masroor (1930 — 2012) - Feminist Urdu writer



Not many people know she was engaged to Urdu poet Sahir Ludhianvi but he called it off after she corrected his pronunciation in a literary gathering. She was married to the editor of daily Dawn and has written famous stories likeChand Ke Doosri Taraf and Tisri Manzil. She received the Pride of Performance award for best writer in 1995. Masroord died on September 15.

Faizan Peerzada (1958-2012) - Producer/director/puppeteer

Peerzada was a devoted puppeteer and artist, who began his career at his father’s Rafi Theatre Workshop in 1977. He also introduced Sim Sim Hamara, the Urdu rendition to Sesame Street in 2011 in collaboration with USAID. Peerzada suffered a heart attack and died on December 20.

Iqbal Bahu (1947 — 2012) - Sufi singer



Bahu’s most famous for Baba Bulley Shah’s kalams Alaf Allah Chumbay Dee Booti and Maain Ne Main Kino Aakhan. He was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the government of Pakistan in 2008 for his singing. Bahu passed away at the age of 65 in Lahore due to heart problems.

Ibrahim Nafees (1956 — 2012) - Actor



Renowned film, television and theatre actor started his career with Kanwari Bewa and worked in in over 200 films. He was ill for almost three years and passed away on May 21. Some of his famous films include Heera aur Pathar, Doraha, and Inteqam Kay Sholay.

Obaidullah Baig (1936 — 2012) - Eminent scholar/Urdu writer/novelist/columnist/documentary filmmaker



Baig is most famous for his quiz show Kasauti, which he started with Iftikhar Arif in the ‘70s, and Ghazi Salahuddin in the ‘90s. He started his career at Radio Pakistan in 1961 and moved to television in 1964. His award winning documentaries include Game Warden, Lakes of Sindh and Wildlife in Sindh. He was 76-years-old when he passed away in June 22.

Samina Raja (1961 — 2012) - Urdu poet/writer/translator



In 1998, Raja joined the National Book Foundation as a consultant and edited the monthly magazine until 2005. She was also an editor for Mustaqbil, Aasar, and Khwabgar, in her last 15 years. She lost her battle to cancer on October 31 in Islamabad. 

Safirullah Siddiqui aka Lehri (1929 -2012) - Actor/comedian



Known as Lehri in the Pakistani film industry, Siddiqui was everyone’s most adored comedian on screen. He had his own style of converting script into sarcastic and spontaneous dialogue. After his retirement, ex Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto set up a monthly allowance of Rs2,500 which he received until he died on September 13.

Zubair Abbasi (1948 — 2012) - Playwright/journalist



Abbasi started his professional career as a journalist for various publications and then moved on to writing plays for television. He has been appreciated for his writings on social issues. Some of his famous works include Nisf Sadi, Haar Jeet and Meher-e-Neem Shab. Abbasi was ill for a few years, and died on January 17.

Sikandar Sanam (1960 — 2012) - Stage artist/singer/actor/comedian



Known as the artist who redefined the art of on-stage mimcry, Sanam became popular internationally in the last few years. The comedian was fighting liver cancer since September, and lost his battle on November 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.