Fatima Surayya Bajia, one of the most popular playwrights of the country, was laid to rest at Gizri graveyard, Defence Housing Authority, Phase 4, on Thursday afternoon.
Earlier, hundreds of people, including notable citizens and also those from varied walks of life, attended her funeral prayers offered in central mosque of Muhammad Ali Cooperative Housing Society.
Former governor of State Bank of Pakistan and Director Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Dr Ishrat Hussain, former vice chancellor of Karachi University Dr Qasim Pirzada, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi, PPP leader Najmi Alam and former minister Javed Jabbar were among prominent citizens of Karachi to attend her funeral prayers and burial.
Film stars Nadeem, Mustafa Qureishi besides members of PTV including Shakeel, Behroze Sabzwari, Qazi Wajid and prominent members of Pakistan Arts Council – Karachi were also present on the occasion. Bajia, suffering from cancer for quite some time, had passed away on Wednesday evening.
Condolence messages had started pouring in from across the country, since people came to know about demise of the lady who had carved a niche for herself in early years of the country’s independence.
Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan said Bajia enjoyed unique status among the drama writers and she was among those who highlighted social issues through her dramas. “It would be very difficult to fulfill the gap created by her death,” Dr Ishrat said. Known actor Mustafa Qureishi said the country and its inhabitants had been deprived of a selfless soul and the void created with her absence could never be filled.
“It is also unfortunate that we, during the past few months, have lost towering figures like Intezar Hussain, Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, Jamil Uddin Aaali and Fatema Surriya,” he said.
Convener, Sada Welfare Foundation, Fauzia Siddiqui, said that Fatema Surraiya had not only chosen title for her NGO but was its chief patron too. She, till the end of her life, continued to wholeheartedly support the cause of child health, Fauzia Siddiqui said.
Senior member of Karachi Boys Scout Association Jaffar Kazim said Bajia would not only be remembered for her literary pursuits but also for the cause of ailing humanity. Vast majority of people do not know how she had helped series of projects and schemes initiated to help resourceless people suffering from different ailments.
