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ISLAMABAD – Legendary comedian Umar Sharif has passed away in Germany on Saturday after battling serious health problems. He was 66.
Sharif’s death was confirmed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany, Dr Mohammad Faisal.
“With deep sorrow it is announced that Mr Umer Sharif has passed away in Germany,” he tweeted. “Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Our CG is present at the hospital to assist the family in every way”, said Dr. Faisal.
Umar Sharif was suffering from multiple problems including heart and kidney diseases. Sharif had boarded an air ambulance for treatment at a hospital in the US on September 28. However, his condition deteriorated on the way and was admitted to a hospital during a stopover in Germany. The veteran actor’s medical condition became a subject of national concern after he made a video appeal to Prime Minister Imran Khan to help him secure a visa to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The federal government had assured him that it would help and the Sindh government also stepped in, sanctioning Rs40 million for his treatment.
President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan in their separate messages have expressed deep grief and sorrow and prayed for the departed soul and grant of courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss.
The president observed that late Sharif had earned distinction in the field of comedy and carved out a place for himself.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was saddened to learn of Sharif’s passing away.
Taking to his Twitter account, he said that he had “the good fortune” of touring with the comedian to raise funds for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.
“He was one of our [greatest] entertainers and will be missed,” he said.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has paid tribute to the services of Veteran Pakistani comedian and television personality Umer Sharif.
In his tweet, the Minister said decorating the gift of smiles on the faces of people of all ages, Umer Sharif set out for heaven.
He said the nation paid the best tribute to the artist and proved that we are a nation that loves art and artists.
The Minister said Umer Sharif’s name will always be written in golden letters in Pakistan’s Encyclopedia of Fine Arts.
He had introduced new trends in the comedy and earned popularity across the world. Because of his unmatched performance he was awarded with many awards including Nigar Award and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
Meanwhile, people from all walks of life and celebrities offered their condolence messages on social media.
Born on 19th April 1955 in Liaquatabad area of Karachi, Umar Sharif started his career as a stage artist at the age of 14 years.
Sharif became a nationwide hit and his stage plays — Bakra Qiston Per and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai being the most famous — were played on audio cassettes in shops and homes in Lahore and blaring through the speakers installed in minibuses (W-11) in Karachi.
He later graduated to films and his stay in Lahore as a film actor and director was reasonably fruitful — Mr 420 is an example. However, with the advent of satellite TV and exponential expansion of the electronic medium, Sharif returned to his hometown Karachi, did plays and even hosted talk shows on a few TV channels.