Renowned senior journalist and prominent figure in the Saraiki intellectual community, Irshad Amin, was laid to rest in Lahore’s Faisal Town graveyard on Monday. He had died on Sunday in Multan. He was 65. He is survived by a wife and a daughter.
Irshad Amin had been residing in a local hotel in Multan for the past three days to cover a PTV assignment. Due to a sudden and severe illness, he was initially admitted to the hospital. However, his condition improved, and he was transferred back to the hotel.
On Sunday evening, his health deteriorated once more, leading to his admission to the hospital. Unfortunately, despite efforts to revive him, he couldn’t be saved, and the Saraiki community lost a dedicated soul. The body of the deceased has been sent to Lahore.
The funeral prayer for Irshad Amin was offered at Minhajul Quran Mosque, Model Town, M Block, Lahore. Prominent figures like Mushtaq Soofi, Khalid Mansoor Rana Mahboob, Irfan Hout, Sher Ali Khalti, and Ahsan Raza were present.
Irshad Amin was not only a celebrated writer and journalist but also a pivotal part of the Saraiki movement. He hailed from the Pahor family of Chachdan Sharif in District Rahim Yar Khan. After spending a significant period with his brothers in Saudi Arabia, he eventually settled in Lahore, making it his permanent residence.
In 1983, Irshad Amin organized a remarkable Saraiki literary and cultural fair in Chachadan Sharif, where intellectuals, poets, singers, and writers from all over the country participated, marking a significant milestone for the Saraiki culture.
Under his editorship, the Saraiki language newspaper “Sajak” gained prominence and recognition.
Irshad Amin also established Saraiki Publication in Lahore, under which notable works like Ismail Ahmadani’s novel “Cholian” and Khawaja Ghulam Farid’s Dewan were published.
His contributions extended to his association with various platforms, including Hum Shahri, a magazine in Lahore, FM 103, and numerous news agencies. His writings continued to be published in national newspapers, magazines, and journals. He is survived by his widow and daughter.
The Pakistan Saraiki Party has declared a three-day period of mourning for the loss of the great Saraiki intellectual, researcher, journalist, and critic, Irshad Amin. He was an eloquent advocate for the underprivileged, a strong voice for the Saraiki Wasib’s struggle, and his passing is indeed a profound loss.
Irshad Amin was a brilliant and resolute ideologue, dedicating his entire life to championing the identity of Saraiki Wasib. His last days were spent in Multan, marking the end of a remarkable journey. With his demise, the Saraiki Wasib community bids farewell to a great historian and a staunch nationalist.
Senior leader of the Pakistan Saraiki Party and writer, Syed Khalil Bukhari, expressed the deep shock felt by the entire Wasib community. He described Irshad Amin as a shining star of the Saraiki movement and lamented the irreplaceable loss of a great intellectual whose legacy will forever be cherished.
