aaj ik aur baras biit gayā us ke baġhair
jis ke hote hue hote the zamāne mere
Ahtisham Ali is regarded as one of the most distinguished critics of Pakistan’s new generation. Through his serious engagement with contemporary literary criticism, he has established his intellectual stature and credibility at a remarkably young age. His insights into modern Urdu nazm are particularly noteworthy, as reflected in his five books: *Majid Amjad: Nai Tanazur Mein*, *Jadeed Urdu Nazm Ki Asri Haisiyat*, *Jadeed Urdu Nazm Ka Nau-Abadiyati Tanazur*, *Jadeed Urdu Nazm Ki Sheriyat*, and *Darwazon Ke Bahar Chandni* (a study on Ahmad Mushtaq’s life, poetics, and translations).
In addition to being a critic, he is also a poet, and his collection of poetry, *Humsafar Koi Nahin*, has been published. He is currently associated with the Department of Urdu at Government College University, Lahore.