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Friday March 29, 2024

Novelist Mazhar Kaleem passes away

By Nadeem Shah
May 27, 2018

MULTAN: Noted novelist Mazhar Kaleem MA passed away here on Saturday. He was 76. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard.

Mazhar was a famous spy writer after Ibn-e-Safi. He had written more than 500 novels of the Imran Series besides writing short stories for kids. He is considered the bestseller spy writer in the sub-continent after Ibn-e-Safi. He created immortal characters in his detective novels. Ibn-e-Safi published his first book exposing a character named Ali Imran in 1955 and Mazhar Kaleem continued the Imran series with some changes. Muhammad Ashraf Qureshi, advisor to a publication company, said: “I am very sad and frustrated on his death because he was part of our life.”

He left two sons and five daughters. The demise of his one son and a daughter shocked Mazhar largely. Mazhar remained ill for more than three years. According to senior journalist Ahmed Rizwan, Mazhar was born in July 1942 in Multan. His father Hamid Yar Khan was a police officer and he got his early education at Multan. The journalist said in 1965 and in 1980 Mazhar experienced two new things: one his father’s decision of his marriage with the daughter of famous poet Allama Asad Multani and second when one of his friends forced him to write a spy novel. Mazhar wrote his first novel ‘Maka Zonga’ in 1980. The novel was published after the death of Ibn-e-Safi. The journalist said in 1970s Mazhar’s friend BA Jamal established a library and publishing house in Bohar Gate and he started publishing spy novels regularly. Mazhar’s ancestors belonged to Afghanistan of Muhammadzai tribe of Pashtuns.

His ancestors migrated from Afghanistan and settled in Punjab at Shorkot. Later, they settled at Multan. Majority of his family members joined Pakistan Army and the Punjab police. His grandfather and an uncle also were employee of the Punjab police.

However, Mazhar and his younger brother did not join civil service. His younger brother was an engineer while Mazhar was a writer and advocate by profession. Mazhar got his early education from Multan Dolat Gate Islamia High school and passed his Secondary School Certificate exam in 1957. He continued his intermediate study at Multan Emerson College and passed the exam, later he completed his graduation from the college.

In those days the Punjab University had opened its campus at Multan and he got admission in the first session in masters and completed his MA Urdu. Mazhar was associated with different insurance companies. Later, he turned to journalism and remained associated with daily Aftab published from Multan.

During his association with journalism, he completed his LLB degree. He started writing research features. He left newspaper job in 1978 and became a practicing lawyer. His father played key role in the promotion of writing skills.