He studied at the Upsi Bijari Taraprasanna English High School, from which he passed his matriculation exam with scholarship in 1942.

His first story, "Abhishap", was published in 1940 in the Nabajug magazine, which was edited by the activist Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Ishaque's first big literary effort, Sūrja-Dīghal Baṛī, was completed in August 1948, though waited some seven years for a publisher.

After the Partition of India in 1947, he became an assistant inspector for the Pakistan police department and was based in the cities of Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad up until 1956.

Graduating from Karachi University in 1960, he served in many important posts in the country as well as in diplomatic positions in the high commission offices.