Asma Abbas Reveals Her Father Ahmed Bashir’s Two Marriages, Shares Anecdote About His Love for Her Mother

Actress discusses her parents’ relationship and her father’s first marriage during a recent podcast appearance
KARACHI: Pakistani actress Asma Abbas has shared details about the marital life of her father, renowned writer and journalist Ahmed Bashir, revealing that he was married twice.
Speaking during a recent podcast appearance, the actress explained that her father’s first marriage was arranged by his parents with a cousin. According to Asma Abbas, Ahmed Bashir was not willing to enter the marriage and went to stay at a friend’s house after the wedding ceremony.
She said that his friend later helped him with the separation from his first wife. Ahmed Bashir subsequently married Asma Abbas’s mother, who was also related to him.
‘My Father Loved My Mother Deeply’
Asma Abbas said her father loved her mother immensely and found it difficult to stay away from her.
Recounting an incident from her parents’ lives, the actress said that after the birth of their first child, Adeeba Neelam Bashir, her mother went to her parents’ home.
According to Asma Abbas, Ahmed Bashir repeatedly asked his wife to return home, but she initially refused to come back immediately.
The actress recalled that her father then threatened divorce to persuade her mother to return and even sent her a fake divorce notice. Her mother became frightened and returned home, only to discover that the notice was not genuine.
A Family With Literary and Artistic Roots
Asma Abbas belongs to a prominent Pakistani family with strong literary and artistic connections. Her father, Ahmed Bashir, was a well-known writer and journalist who earned recognition in Pakistan’s literary and intellectual circles.
Her sister Bushra Ansari is among Pakistan’s leading actresses. Her other sisters include Neelam, Adeeba and Sumbul. Actress Sumbul passed away in 2021 due to COVID-19.
Through her podcast appearance, Asma Abbas offered a glimpse into her family history and shared personal recollections about her parents’ relationship.