Columnist laid to rest

Staff Report

LAHORE: Noted writer and columnist Abdullah Malik who passed away on Wednesday in Islamabad was laid to rest at the G-Block Model Town graveyard on Thursday.

Mr Malik, 82, had been ill for the last many months. He was suffering from Pleural Effusion, a lung disease. He was earlier admitted to Qadeer Khan Research Laboratory from where he was shifted to PIMS a few days back. The writer was born in Muhalla Chabak Sawaran of the Walled City in 1920. His early education was from Islamia College, Lahore. As a journalist, he worked with a number of national dailies.

Mr Malik was a member of the communist party. He remained associated with the Progressive Papers Limited (PPL). He was also the foreign correspondent of two newspapers. He wrote several books on the history of Punjab and political movements in the Indo-Pak subcontinent. He had his share of politics as well. He was put behind bars during Yahya Khan’s regime for supporting the Bangladesh movement. He was also sentenced for lashes for writing an article against the hanging of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Mujeebur Rehman, but later the sentence was withdrawn.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal Sahi, in his condolence message, said Mr Malik’s demise was a sad moment for everyone. Noted writer A Hameed commenting on Mr Malik’s life said he was an intellectual in real terms. Although he was associated with the communist party early in his life, he was a staunch Muslim. In this regard, he said, one should read his travelogue titled ‘Aik Communist Ka Safar Nama-e-Haj’. Mr Hameed said he had recently gone to China with Mr Malik where the latter delivered a few lectures on communism.

He said Mr Malik’s literary works were more valuable. His vision was broad when it came to literary criticism. Mr Malik did a lot to promote the Punjabi language and culture. His funeral was held on Thursday and he was laid to rest at the G block Model Town graveyard. His grandson told Daily Times that his Quran Khawani would be held at his residence 134- Tippu Block Garden Town at 5.00pm today (Friday).

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