President General Pervez Musharraf has expressed his profound grief over the sad demise of renowned scholar and author, Ashfaq Ahmad, in Lahore on Tuesday.
In a condolence message to his family, the President recounted the services rendered by the late Ashfaq Ahmad to Pakistan and to literature. He said such people are national assets and the people benefit from their writings and experiences. He said the literary world had indeed lost one of its distinguished personalities.
He prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and give courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Ashfaq Ahmed, who had authored some 20 books, was "a great social reformer of his age and a torch bearer in highlighting the social issues."-Agencies
OUR CORRESPONDENT ADDS FROM LAHORE: Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) said Ashfaq Ahmed was a great scholar and his death has created a vacuum that could not be filled in so easily. Applauding the services of deceased, he said, his thoughts and writings were a source of guidance and inspiration for the people.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has described the death of Ashfaq Ahmed as a national loss and said that he was a precious intellectual and literary asset, which any society can be proud of.
In a condolence message, he said that he was deeply grieved to know about the death of Ashfaq Ahmed. "His thoughts and writings were a source of guidance and inspiration for me that left a great impact on my personal life," he added.
He prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.