Renowned comedian Umer Sharif, who passed away in Germany on Saturday, was laid to rest at the shrine of Sufi Saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi in the Clifton area of Karachi on Wednesday.
There has never been a comedian who has come close to the excellence and charisma of Sharif. He was truly a legend that Pakistan was blessed with. Alas, the king of the comedy realm is no longer with us.
Funeral prayers of Sharif were offered at a park in the Clifton area named after him. It was attended by a large number of the general public, his fans, people of the show business fraternity especially fellow theatre artists, politicians, and senior authorities. Over 200 police personnel and a bomb disposal squad had been deputed at the funeral for security, police said.
Maulana Basheer Farooqi led the funeral prayers. The Sindh government’s Auqaf Department granted special permission to bury Sharif at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi. It kept in view the wish expressed by the veteran artist during his life.
In a tweet on Sunday, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani said that a son of the late comedian said that the comedian wanted to be buried in the Abdullah Shah Ghazi graveyard. Additionally, he informed that the provincial government was making arrangements in this regard.
Earlier in the morning, the body of Sharif arrived at Karachi Airport from Munich on a Turkish Airlines flight. It was received by two sons of the late artist and Sindh Information Minister. The coffin was draped in the Pakistani flag.
Acknowleding the veteran’s services for the country
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) named an underpass on Shaheed-e-Millat Road in the city after Sharif. The memorandum of the KMC drafted for the purpose acknowledged that Sharif, who was born in Karachi in 1955, emerged as an uncrowned king of Pakistani theatre as he also performed in television programs and films.
It said that the underpass was being named after the late veteran actor while acknowledging his services for the country. Sindh Information Minister said the Sindh government, later on, would also establish an institute in the memory of late Sharif. It would train new talent in the field of performing arts.
The artist was a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his contributions. Not only as a comedian but also as an actor, and producer in the entertainment industry. He also received ten Nigar Awards and remains the only actor to receive four Nigar Awards in a single year.
Sharif, accompanied by his wife, started his journey for the US on an air ambulance on Sept 28. However, he passed away in Germany. He was 66. The legend will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace.
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