Eminent poet, journalist Ajmal Siraj passes away

An eminent poet, senior journalist and member of the Karachi Press Club, Sirajuddin Ajmal, popularly known as Ajmal Siraj among the literary circles, passed away here on Thursday after a brief illness. He was 56.

Siraj had been under treatment for a lung disease at a private hospital in the city for the past couple of days. He is survived by a widow, two sons, and three daughters.

He breathed his last in the early hours of Thursday. His funeral prayers were held after Asr at Tayyaba Masjid at Zaman Town in Korangi No 4. He was laid to rest at Maula Bux Graveyard in Korangi No 6.

His funeral prayers were attended by a large number of his fellow poets, writers, artists, media persons, journalists, and prominent persons from different walks of life. He was born in 1968.

Siraj was always proud of his association with his native city of Karachi. He obtained a master’s degree from the University of Karachi. The compilation of his poems “Aur Main Soochta Raha” was first published in 2005 and later re-published by the Arts Council, Karachi in 2010. He also served as the magazine editor for a newspaper organisation.

Many followers and colleagues of the late Siraj took to social media and wrote to pay tribute to his literary works. They said the vacuum created in Urdu literature and poetry due to the passing away of Siraj could never be fulfilled.

In their condolence message, KPC President Saeed Sarbazi, Secretary Shoaib Ahmed and members of the executive committee expressed profound grief and sorrow over the passing away of Siraj and condoled with his family members.