LAHORE: Renowned cartoonist Irshad Haider Zaidi passed away here on Wednesday at the age of 89.

Known as Zaidi, the cartoonist had beenadmitted to the intensive care unit of a local hospital for the last few days with respiratory and kidney issues.

He left behind a wife, four sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren to mourn. He was thebrother of journalist Farhad Zaidi, father of Dawn Magazine Editor Hasan Zaidi.

Born in Hyderabad, Deccan, Zaidi after the Partition migrated to Lahore with his family.

He also spent many years of his life in Karachi.

Mr Zaidi`s cartoons were a funny, sarcastic and thoughtful comment on different political and social issues.

He started his career in the early 50`s and also worked with Faiz Ahmed Faiz. He gave many forms of editorial cartoon, including the animated cartoon appearing on Geo TV with his famous characters Ool and Jalool.

A small portion of his newspaper work has been published by Geo and Jang Group. A book comprising his work titled `Zaidi Kay Cartoon` was published in 2007.

He also worked as a cartoonist in the defunct national daily Hurriyat.

Funeral prayers will be held after Asr prayers at 5pm on Thursday (today) at Imambargah Jamia Quran-e-Natiq in K-Block, Valencia.-Staff Reporter