Ahmed Faraz laid to rest

The legendary Urdu poet, Ahmed Faraz was laid to rest here at H-8 graveyard on Tuesday. His funeral prayer was led by Maulana Samiul Haq and attended by Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Faisal Karim Kundi, Senator Waseem Sajjad, Senator S. M. Zafar and prominent literary figures and bureaucrats.
Pashto-speaking Ahmed Faraz learned and studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University where he also taught later. Outspoken on political issues, he went into self-exile during the Zia-ul-Haq era. He was also arrested during that period for reciting poems critical of the military rule.
He stayed for three years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan. He was presented many national and international awards. However, he criticised the government of the day and its policies and returned the award in 2006.
Maintaining a tradition established by his mentor, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he wrote excellent poetry in exile. His famous work of resistance was "Mahasara". He had written 13 books. Death of one of the most popular poet of the present times Ahmed Faraz is a great loss for the whole Urdu world.
These views were expressed by Iftikhar Arif, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters in his condolence message. He further said that Ahmed Faraz was considered as a resistance poet and was a representative of Urdu literature in the World.
He added that Ahmed Faraz's poetry has been translated into many major languages of the world like French, Russian, German, Sweedish, Hindi and English. Ahmed Faraz was given the most prestigious literary award "Kamal-e-Fun Award". His more than one book got award of best book of the year.
The Acting Chairman Senate, Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Ahmad Faraz, who breathed his last here lastnight. Speaker National Assembly, Dr Fehmida Mirza and Deputy Speaker Fasil Karim Kundi also expressed their grief and sorrow over the sad demise of eminent poet Faraz.
In their separate condolence messages to the bereaved family the Speaker and Deputy Speaker paid rich tribute to Ahmed Faraz, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.