Siraj Memon passes away at 79

KARACHI: Renowned Sindhi intellectual‚ writer‚ journalist and former editor of Sindhi daily Hilal-e-Pakistan Sirajul Haq Memon has passed away in Karachi. He was 79.

He was born at Tando Jam in 1933.

Siraj Memon was the author of many scholarly works on history and literature and also the author of Parado So Ee Saddu. He wrote about a dozen books and is considered a pillar of modern Sindhi. He published two collections of short stories and 6 novels in Sindhi.

He also worked on Sindhi linguistics and contributed research reports on history of Sindhi language.

He had been the editor of established Sindhi daily Hilal-e-Pakistan for six years. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto‚ the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan‚ formed Pakistan Peoples Party in late sixties‚ he bought the Hilal-e-Pakistan newspaper‚ which used to publish from Hyderabad at that time. In 1972‚ Bhutto decided to shift the paper to Karachi and switch over to modern methods of printing. Renowned writer Sirajul Haq Memon was appointed the editor who took the paper to new heights. The daily Hilal-e-Pakistan‚ under the editorship of Siraj revolutionized Sindhi journalism.

Siraj resigned from editorship when the Martial Law regime of Gen. Zia took over the paper in late 1977. Sirajul Haq Memon also served on several important positions including the Assistant Secretary of Sindhi Adabi Board.

He was the uncle of Sindh Information Minister Sherjeel Memon.

His Namaz-e-Janaza will be offered tomorrow after Zohr prayers at Sultan Masjid, DHA Karachi.