Mohammed Hanif is a Pakistani novelist and journalist. He graduated from the Pakistan Air Force Academy as Pilot Officer, but left to pursue a career in journalism. He has worked for Newsline, India Today and The Washington Post. He left Pakistan for London in 1996, only to return with his family to Karachi in 2008, after 12 years of living in Britain. His first novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes (2008) was applauded by both critics and readers alike, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008, and won the Commonwealth Prize for Best First Novel. It is a satirical, quirky tale based on the plane crash that killed General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, former president of Pakistan. He has also written plays for the stage and screen, including a BBC drama What Now, Now That We Are Dead?, and the screenplay for the feature film, The Long Night, which has been shown at film festivals around the world. He is a graduate of University of East Anglia’s creative writing programme, and headed the BBC’s Urdu service while in London.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/24/pakistan.healthandwellbeing?... - Mohammed Hanif talks to The Guardian about returning home to Karachi after 12 years away.
Mohammed Hanif will be featured at the following events:
Friday 29 January, 3.30 PM- 4.30 PM, Hall de Galle: Exploding the Mango
Friday 29 January, 8 PM- 10 PM: Literary Dinner
Saturday 30 January, 12.30 PM- 2 PM: A Private Affair
Saturday 30 January, 3.30 PM- 4.30 PM, Hall de Galle: Strange Heroes
Sunday 31 January, 3.30 PM- 4.30 PM, Hall de Galle: Endings
Please click on programme for more details about these events!