Adil Najam
[UPDATE: Sadly, Ahmed Faraz died in Islamabad ]on August 25, 2008. Details here.]
Despite an erroneous news earlier that renowned poet Ahmed Faraz had died in a Chicago hospital, the news right now is that Ahmed Faraz is still alive, but not at all well, struggling for his life in a Chicago hospital.
Here is the latest from The News:
CHICAGO: Renowned poet Ahmed Faraz is alive and still under medical treatment at a local hospital here, said his physician Tahir Rohail, brushing aside the earlier report of his death aired by state TV. He said Ahmed Faraz is seriously ill at a hospital in Chicago where necessary medical treatment is being provided to him.
Others are still reporting his death, seemingly based on a TV channel news item. It seems - we hope - that the TV channel jumped the gun on this and Faraz Sahib is still alive.
We have, of course, written multiple times on the legendary poet - including here, here and most recently here. I shake as I type this and I pray that we will NOT be writing about his demise anytime soon. For me Faraz has always been a fighter, and we are rooting for him in this fight too. Here is some of Fawaz the fighter:
We certainly pray that he is and that he will remain alive and kicking for a long time. But (earlier) reports, from people close to him, seem to suggest that his condition is very critical and it has been and remains a touch and go situation. He needs our prayers.
You can visit ATP on your Mobile Phone. Here's how!
Hope and pray for Faraz Sahab’s health. Earlier I heard about his knee injury and never thought that his health is so critical. God bless him.
Thank you ATP for correcting this news. So glad that he is alive but praying for him to recover and come back to his old fighting self. Ameen.
I pray to allah for the speedy recovery of the great international poet AHMAD FARAZ.
I pray for Ahmad Faraz recovery and long life.
He taught me in Islamia College Peshawar in the early 60’s. I always seek his guidance to sort out my dilemmas -his prayers to get out of trouble.
He’s what my father was to me -charismatic, kind, loving, and a source of light.
MAY ALLAH give him health and long life. Ameen.
FARAZ SAHAB GET WELL SOON
This is Habib Khan, PhD Harvard
I am just so relieved that Faraz sahab is still alive. I am sure entire Pakistani nation is praying for his health as he is our own voice. May Allah give him health. Ameen.
On a side note, it was not just PTV but every other news channel reported his death including Geo, ARY, Aaj etc. Extremely irresponsible and inhuman behavior on part of news channels in a race to break the news first.
My prayers are with him. A freind heard him recently at APPNA and told me he was obviously not well but his peotry style was still full of zest. May he have a long long life and much more beautiful poetry.
@Unfortunately, PTV announced ( during Lunch hour news )Faraz’s death upon wrong sources, I saw the announcement myself, condolences were even presented by Iftikhar Arif .
PTV should revise there attitude !!
I wish Faraz Sahib a rapid recovery.
Azm-o-Agahi tera paimana-e-bazm-e adab hey,
jo bhi guzra is maikhaney say, faizyab guzra
Rafay Kashmiri
I am so very glad to hear that he is alive. I am praying for his life. He is a voice of sanity and struggle for all of us.
I just got an email that he had died and was totally devastated. I hope the news remains false.
My prayers are with Faraz Sahib and his family.