Pakistani stage comedian Asif Iqbal dies of heart attack at 60

Pakistani stage actor and comedian Asif Iqbal, known to theatre audiences as “Pheena”, died in Lahore on Saturday, 19 September, after suffering a heart attack. He was 60.

Iqbal was rushed to hospital but doctors could not save him, his family said, Dawn reported. Funeral prayers were offered at Nargis Block, Allama Iqbal Town.

Born in Gujranwala, Iqbal played cricket for WAPDA before turning to theatre. He joined Lahore’s Tamaseel Theatre in the 1980s, moved to Alflah Theatre and made his acting debut around 1996, according to reports. Dawn said he was introduced to theatre by Sohail Ahmed and was a close companion of stage legends Mastana and Baboo Baral.

Known for energetic acting, rapid-fire dialogue and improvisation, he became a familiar face of Punjabi stage comedy over a career spanning decades. His television credits included Syasi Theater, Hadd e Adab, Oouch and Tanzo Maza, and his film appearances included Run Mureed, No Tension and Chal Mera Putt, the Pakistan Observer reported.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed grief over his death, hailing his services to theatre, The Nation reported.

Sources

• Dawn: Actor Asif Iqbal passes away — dawn.com
• Dunya News: Comedian Asif Iqbal dies of heart attack — dunyanews.tv
• Pakistan Observer: Stage actor Asif Iqbal aka ‘Pheena’ passes away — pakobserver.net
• The Nation: Renowned comedian, stage actor Asif Iqbal passes away — nation.com.pk