Ashfaq Saleem Mirza

Ashfaq Saleem Mirza ( 1944 – 2020 ) was a prominent Pakistani intellectual, writer, translator, and historian, known for his leftist and progressive ideology. Born in Khanewal, he spent part of his early life there before moving to Lahore for higher education, where he earned a Master degree in English from Punjab University. Throughout his career, he remained deeply committed to promoting critical thinking, historical awareness, and social justice. Mirza was celebrated for translating classical works, including those of Shakespeare, into Urdu, making literary treasures more accessible to the local readership. He authored several thought-provoking books and essays that explored themes of philosophy, politics, and history, and his poetic expressions, some of which were published posthumously, added further depth to his intellectual legacy. He held key positions in cultural and public institutions such as the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), where he worked during the tenure of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), as well as being actively involved with the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA). Ashfaq Saleem Mirza passed away in 2020, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to inspire writers, thinkers, and students of critical discourse across Pakistan.