Veteran Pakistani TV and film actor Anwar Iqbal passed away in Karachi on Thursday after a protracted illness, a statement from his family and friends said. He was in his 70s. Speaking to Dawn, Anwar's brother Ahmed Iqbal, also the owner of Vsh TV, said that the late actor was suffering from a host of health problems as he was a diabetic and had stomach issues. The popular actor had sometime back fallen down at his home and his health had since then begun deteriorating. He was admitted to hospital for treatment, where he breathed his last. Anwar's funeral was held at the Baitul Mukarram Masjid in Gulshan-i-Iqbal after an Isha prayer and he was laid to rest with honors in the Mewashah graveyard. He is survived with four daughters after his wife had passed away around one and a half months back.
Anwar is known for making the Balochi-language film on Baloch hero Hammal-o-Mahganj, which ran into some controversy at the time of its release. Having worked in several PTV dramas and films and having acquired a Master's degree from the University of Karachi, the actor-filmmaker began his career in the 1970s and went on to make Hammal-o-Mahganj, which is stated to be the only Balochi-language film made in Pakistan to date. He played the role of Hammal, with the script and dialogues written by veteran journalist Nadir Shah Adil, who also made an appearance in the film. However, the film ran into trouble at the time of its release after workers of the then National Awami Party (NAP) protested stating that it may tarnish the Baloch culture. Subsequently, the film's theatrical screenings were called off after which it was shown at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi only a few years ago.