Anwar Ali (1922-2004)

Anwar Ali, creator of famous character Nanna, was the first newspaper cartoonist associated with The Pakistan Times. Born on April 18, 1922 in Ludhiana, his association with this newspaper spread over 30 years from 1947 to 1977.

The cartoon was one of the most widely appreciated items on the pages of The Pakistan Times for its brief, down to earth, and honest comment to expose hypocrisy of upper strata of the society.

According to Khalid Hasan, “Nanna, the memorable imp used to appear on the front page of The Pakistan Times every day, thumbing his nose at everyone, from jacked up bureaucrats to rotund feudal lords to double-crossing politicians to city fathers who preferred to help themselves rather than the city.

“Were I to choose one political cartoonist out of the many who have drawn for our newspapers since independence, without hesitation, I would choose Anwar Ali, always Anwar Nanna to those of us who had the privilege of working under the same roof with him.

Anwar Ali, who also worked for Dawn and the Civil Military Gazette, was also the author of two collections of short stories Kaalian Ittan, Kaale Ror and Noori.

He died in Lahore on November 27, 2004.

(Compiled from different news reports)

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Yusuf Lodhi (Vai Ell) (1938-1996)

Yusuf Lodhi, an accidental but acerbic cartoonist, who introduced a new form of political caricature in Pakistan, joined the world of journalism in 1969 as assistant editor of Peshawar Times.

Najam Sethi

Najam Sethi is an award-winning journalist and media personality. He is the Editor-in-Chief of The Friday Times, a Lahore-based political weekly. He was previously the Editor of Daily Times and

Safdar Mir (1922-1998)

Born in Lahore, Mohammad Safdar Mir was respected and feared for his encyclopedic knowledge, making his mark as a poet and playwright. He acted on stage in both Bombay and Lahore

Agha Nasir (1937-2016)

Born on February 9, 1937 in Meerut, India, Agha Nasir was an outstanding director, producer, broadcaster and a TV playwright. After graduating from the University of Karachi, he started his career with a stint with Radio Pakistan in 1955.

Omar Kureishi (1928-2005)

Omar Kureishi was a distinguished Pakistani writer. He worked in advertising, aviation and journalism, writing for many newspapers, including Dawn, The Pakistan Times, Morning News and The Guardian, London.

I A Rehman

A senior journalist and human rights activist, I A Rehman is known for his outspoken views. He served as editor-in-chief of The Pakistan Times from 1989-90. Since 1990 he has been serving as a director

Yawar Hayat (1943-2016)

Born on October 18, 1943, Yawar Hayat is celebrated as one of the chief architects of Pakistan Television (PTV). The son of Brigadier Azmat Hayat Khan, he was the grandson of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan

Razia Bhatti (1944-1996)

Razia Bhatti has been described as a crusader, a torch-bearer, and a symbol of courage. In 1996, the Pakistan Press Foundation called her untimely death at the age of 52 an 'end of a golden chapter of journalism in Pakistan.'

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