Zafaryab Ahmad (1953-2006)

Zafaryab Ahmad (1953-2006) was a journalist who made a name for himself as a trade unionist and a political activist. He worked in the dailies Dawn and the Frontier Post and the weekly Viewpoint. He also edited the first Punjabi newspaper of the country, Sajjan, in 1990. He was given the CJFE Press Freedom International Award in 1999 in Toronto, Canada, for his meritorious services to journalism.

During his short stint as teacher after doing his masters in Political Science from the Punjab University, Zafaryab taught at the Faisalabad Agriculture University, Atchison College and the Administrative Staff College.

He also served the Sustainable Development Institute of Pakistan and the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research for short period.Zafaryab remained a trade unionist and political activist most of his life.

He played an active role in the campaign against Ayub Khan’s martial law as a student leader. He went to the US in the late 90s after the government booked him on sedition charges for raising his voice for children working in the carpet industry. He lived in the US till the end of 2005.

Zafaryab died of a heart attack on January 25, 2006. He was 53.

Source: Dawn

Back

Altaf Gauhar (1923-2000)

Altaf Gauhar was a man of extraordinary versatility, charm and intelligence. He was born in Gujranwala and received his education from the Government College, Lahore, after which he joined All-India Radio

Abdullah Malik (1920-2003)

Journalist, writer and political activist, Abdullah Malik wrote in his book Purani Mehfilain Yaad aa Ra'hi Ain: "I can declare with pride that I have spent my entire life wedded to the same commitment

Gul Hameed Bhatti (1947-2010)

Gul Hameed Bhatti was a top ranked cricket journalist and statistician. He also loved flying and was a commercial pilot with the Pakistan International Airlines between 1968 and 1971.

Muhammad Ziauddin (1938-2021)

Muhammad Ziauddin, renowned as a capable and fiercely independent journalist, left a lasting legacy spanning over five decades. Known respectfully as Ziauddin Sahab, he was regarded as one of the last legendary journalists in Pakistan.

F.E. Choudhry (1909-2013)

Affectionately known as Chacha in the journalist community, F. E. Choudhry is credited to have introduced innovative features to photojournalism, such as cricket action photography, pictorial and

Nasir Zaidi

On May 13, 1978, four journalists courted arrest at the offices of Musawaat, among them was Nasir Zaidi, a quiet, unassuming and physically frail individual. They were driven away in chains for

Ardeshir Cowasjee (1926-2012)

Businessman, philanthropic and outspoken columnist, Ardeshir Cowasjee was regarded as an 'old guardian' of Karachi city. Cowasjee belonged to a well-known Parsi family of Karachi

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.'

Newsroom

Pele to Messi: How World Cup finals wrote football's greatest story

June 15, 2026 From Pele to Messi, World Cup finals shaped football's global story, tracing triumphs and heartbreaks and showing how the game became a shared language.

Press freedom review: From jail cells to cyberspace, threats to journalists multiply

June 14, 2026 Press freedom faces mounting challenges worldwide as journalists confront arrests, legal pressure, cyberattacks, online harassment, deportations, and reporting restrictions across multiple countries.

The right to know: Comparing access-to-information laws across Asia

June 14, 2026 Across Asia, RTI laws range from effective tools for journalism and accountability to paper laws weakened by bureaucracy, broad exemptions and poor enforcement.

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT): How journalists verify information in the digital age

June 14, 2026 OSINT helps journalists verify social media, photos, videos, maps and public records to improve reporting accuracy and detect misinformation.

Ethiopia expels French journalist after Tigray reporting

June 13, 2026 Ethiopia expelled French reporter A. Passilly after Tigray reporting, drawing criticism from press groups as retaliatory and damaging to press freedom.