PESHAWAR: Popular Pashto stand-up comedian Mirawas breathed his last on Thursday in Mardan after protracted illness, family sources confirmed.

The artist was bedridden since long owing to multiple health complications. On deteriorating his condition last month, he was admitted to a Peshawar hospital. A week ago he was shiftedto Mardan where he breathed his last in a local health facility, family sources and diehard fans told this scribe.

Pashto comedy writers sometimes termed him Umar Sharif of Pashto as he was bold expressive and aninstantjoke cracker.

Literary figures and artists expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of renowned Pashto comedian, who always brought endless laughter to faces of his admirers. They termed death of Mirawas an irreparable loss to Pashto comic literature and stage performance. He had over 800 albums to his credit. He had also brought a collection of poems drenched in jokes way back in 2018.

Born in 1955 in Tangi tehsil of district Charsadda, the popular artist Hayat Khan aka Mirawas had started comedy during his early school days on ever Saturday as he was born with a penchant for cracking jokes.

Mirawas gained widespread popularity for his unique talent and it took him to radio, TV and stage in his early 30s. He became the most sought after stand-up comedian. He enjoyed large fans-following among Pashtuns, who admired him for his scathing satire and humour.

Mirawas`s campaign through performance against drugs addiction among youth catapulted him to unprecedented fame.

Also, his comedy would arouse laughter with a great message for common people and Pashtun society at large.

The artist had represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in about 20 countries including Gulf States and Europe where he had performed. He was recipient of numerous awards given to him by literary and cultural organisations.

Mirawas in his recent years lived a miserable life because Pashto showbiz suffered a deep slump and even he opened a roadside food outlet in Malakand.

He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Charsadda. Notables, artists and fans attended his funeral prayers. Sher Alam Shinwari