LAHORE: A condolence reference was held to pay tribute to journalist, poet and playwright Munoo Bhai (Munir Ahmed Qureshi) at the Government College University (GCU) on Thursday.

Highlighting aspects of the late writer, rights activist I.A. Rehman said Munoo Bhai had a special ability to observe political and social issues from different angles beyond the common perception which helped him write amazing columns on a daily basis for more than 63 years. He said it would take decades to research, understand the literary and political writings of Munoo Bhai.

Cherishing his long friendship with Munoo, poet and playwright Amjad Islam Amjad said he was so artistic in his depiction of ideas that he presented very harsh and sensitive topics in humorous yet insightful way. “Munoo was a master of soft-criticism,” he added.

Vice Chancellor Prof Hassan Amir Shah said Munoo Bhai was a very versatile person; he wrote poetry, plays and very popular Punjabi poems. He was a humanist and always used his pen to support the exploited and the poor.

Punjab Higher Education Commission chairman Prof Nizamuddin praised him for his work for children suffering from thalassemia.

“We will preserve his legacy and will continue his mission,” he said.

Playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed said Munoo Bhai was the most loved person in his contemporary literary circles.

“His dramas like Sona Chandi provided a window to understand the sufferings of a middle class family. His collection of columns “Jungle Udas Hai” depicted his empathy for the marginalised sections of society,” he added.

Salima Hashmi talked about Munoo Bhai’s friendship with her husband Shoaib Hashmi and father Faiz Ahmad Faiz.

SLAIN PROFESSOR: As police failed to find a clue to the murder of GCU’s Associate Professor Dr Tanzeem Akbar Cheema, the varsity vice chancellor, faculty and students demanded swift justice in a condolence reference.

The GCU will observe a black day on Friday (today) to protest against the murder and police failure to arrest the culprits.

Addressing the reference, VC Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said all faculty members of GCU were shocked and grieved over the murder. “We will pursue this case to get justice. We hope the culprits will be arrested soon.”

Botany Department Chairperson Dr Safdar Mirza said Dr Cheema’s death was a huge loss for the university.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2018