PESHAWAR: Sep 17 (INP) Senior actor Iftikhar Qaiser breathed his last Sunday morning after protracted illness in Lady Reading hospital in the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ARY News reported. Qaiser was admitted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital on Sept 09 after his health condition deteriorated. He was suffering from diabetes and stomach disorder for the last several years, according to the hospital administration. The famed actor started his acting career in his early age with a play on state-run Pakistan Television. His versatility and art of performance earned him a special place in the drama industry and widespread popularity with a huge number of fans across the country. His acting career spanned more than 40 years as he appeared in hundreds of Hindko, Pashto and Urdu plays. Last week, Iftikhar's son, Hasnain, had said his father was kept under the open sky for nine hours and was not admitted to the hospital's ward. However, the hospital administration said the delay was due to Iftikhar's test results. After the news of Qaisar's ailment started making rounds, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said she had directed the ministry's officials to ensure Qaisar was receiving proper medical care. Qaiser was also awarded President’s Pride of Performance for his contribution in the field of acting. INP/AH