CHARSADDA: Renowned Pashto fiction writer and journalist Muflis Durrani passed away after a protracted illness, family sources confirmed here on Tuesday. He was 92.

He was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard where hundreds of locals, literati, elders and journalists attended his Nimaz-i-Janaza. He was patron-in-chief of Muhammadzai Union of Journalists.

Haji Shamsuddin aka Muflis Durrani was born in 1932 in historical Utmanzai village and received his early education from Azad School set up by Khudai Khidmatgaar Tehreek of Bacha Khan.

Later, he did masters in Pashto and Urdu literature as private candidate from University of Peshawar. He had a taste for literary pursuits from his early age. He had begun writing short stories in literary journals before partition.

Mr Durrani joined Pakistan Air Force in 1952. He continued writing poems and stories under pseudonyms and later published literary pieces under his pen name of ‘Muflis Durrani’ after retirement from the government service.

The late writer remained part of many literary and journalists’ organisations and inspired a host of poets, writers and reporters during his lifetime. He published several collections of short stories and poems in Pashto and acclaimed widespread reputation from literary bodies.

Local writers, rights activists and journalist termed the demise of Muflis Durrani an irreparable loss to Pashto literature, journalists and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at large.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2024