Ata ul Haq Qasmi

Ata ul Haq Qasmi is a Pakistani Urdu-language newspaper columnist, playwright and poet. He has worked as a journalist for 52 years and authored around 20 books.

Early life and education

Qasmi was born in 1943 in Amritsar, Punjab, within British India. His family possesses Kashmiri roots, and his father, Maulana Baha ul Haq Qasmi, taught at MAO College and MAO High School in Amritsar. Following the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the family migrated to Pakistan. They first settled in Wazirabad before moving to Lahore, where Qasmi completed his high school education.

He later graduated from Government M.A.O. College in Lahore. This academic foundation prepared him for a long career in media and literature.

Career

Qasmi began his professional journey at the Urdu language newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt. He worked there as a sub-editor under the editor Majid Nizami. After this period, he started writing columns for Daily Jang and various other newspapers. His writing often features satire on social inequalities—a style that has earned him significant praise.

He served in diplomatic roles during the late 1990s. From 1997 to 1999, Qasmi acted as the Ambassador of Pakistan in both Norway and Thailand. His literary contributions include books such as Rozan-e-Dewar Sey, Column Tamam, Shar Goshiyan, Hansna Rona Mana Hay and Mazeed Ganjey Farishtey. These works have been translated into four languages.

As a playwright, he has been involved with Pakistani television for over 35 years. His popular PTV drama serials include Khawaja and Son (1988), Shab Daig, Aap ka Khadim and Khoye Hooun Ki Justajoo. Readers also enjoy his travelogues, specifically Shoq-e-Awargi and Goron kay des mein.

Qasmi held several leadership positions in state institutions. In early 2015, he served as the honorary Chairman of the Lahore Arts Council. He was later appointed Chairman for Pakistan Television Corporation, where he remained in office until December 2017.

His talent has been recognized by other prominent figures in Pakistani media. Veteran journalist Altaf Gauhar named him the wittiest newspaper columnist in the country. Additionally, the writer Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi called him the best newspaper columnist in Pakistan.

Personal life

Qasmi has three sons. They are Pirzada Muhammad Omar Qasmi, Pirzada Muhammad Ali Usman Qasmi and Yasir Pirzada.

Awards and recognition

The President of Pakistan has conferred several honors upon Qasmi throughout his career. He received the Pride of Performance Award in 1991. He also earned the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award.

In 2014, he was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) by the President of Pakistan. He is also a recipient of the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence) Award in 2025.