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.

Born in Madras in 1938, Ziauddin migrated with his family to then East Pakistan in 1952. He completed his bachelor's degree from Dhaka University and moved to Karachi in 1960, where he earned a master's degree in journalism from Karachi University. His journalistic journey began as a junior reporter with the Pakistan Press Agency in 1966. By 1974, he had joined Pakistan Economist and later became the assistant editor of Morning News.

In 1978, Ziauddin moved to Islamabad and joined The Muslim. His lifelong association with Dawn began in 1982. The following year, he received the APNS Award for an investigative story on stringent IMF conditions. In 1990, he was appointed bureau chief of Dawn in Islamabad, where he worked tirelessly for the next 11 years to establish Dawn as a leading newspaper in the capital. He was later named the first resident editor of Dawn in Islamabad.

After a brief period as editor with The News, Ziauddin rejoined Dawn and continued as its resident editor in Islamabad until 2005. He later moved to London, serving as Dawn's foreign correspondent. Upon returning to Pakistan, he edited The Express Tribune from 2009 to 2014.

Ziauddin's journalism was marked by the highest standards of professionalism. Known for being polite yet firm, he conducted a notable interview with Asif Ali Zardari on state-run PTV in 1994, alongside Ghazi Salahuddin, during the second government of the Pakistan Peoples Party. His incisive and probing questions led to the interview being shelved.

Muhammad Ziauddin passed away on November 29, 2021, leaving a legacy of journalistic excellence and integrity.

Source: Dawn.com