Zafar Iqbal (poet)

Zafar Iqbal (ظفر اقبال; born 27 September 1930) is an Urdu poet based in Okara, Punjab, Pakistan in Arain family.

Early life and career
Zafar Iqbal Arain was born in 1930 Bahawalnagar, Punjab where his maternal grandparents lived. Then he received his basic early education in Okara, Punjab which is his hometown and later moved to Lahore for his college education. His poetry is mainly in the genre of ghazal. The diction of his ghazal is entirely different from traditional Urdu poetry. He is a lawyer by profession, and regularly contributes articles to some Urdu newspapers.

In contrast to classical Poets, Zafar's poetry portrays love as scientific and physical rather than supernatural. Dr Tabassam Kaashmiri called him Literature's renegade of the 20th century. Former Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan), Hanif Ramay who was also a writer and a well-known literary critic called him a poet of a new tone and new concepts.

Besides being a poet, he has been a newspaper columnist for different newspapers for over 35 years. Considering that he also has been a professional lawyer for most of his adult life, those are not small accomplishments. He practised as an attorney, first in Okara and then in Lahore until 2003, when he had a heart bypass surgery and quit practicing law.

Zafar Iqbal has a son named Aftab Iqbal who is a newspaper columnist and a well-known TV anchor in Pakistan.

Poetry collections

 * Tamjid
 * Taqweem
 * Tashkeel
 * Tajawaz
 * Tawarid
 * Tasahil
 * Hay Hanuman
 * Ab Tak
 * gul aftaab

Books

 * Aab-i-Rawan
 * Gulaftab
 * Ratb-o-Yabis
 * Ghubaaralood simtaun ka suragh
 * Sar-i-aam
 * Aib-o-hunar
 * Vehm-o-gumaan

Awards and recognition

 * Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award (Crescent of Excellence Award) by the President of Pakistan in 2014.
 * Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1999.