Muhammad Ziauddin (1938-2021)

Join our WhatsApp channel

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

Aslam Azhar (1932-2015)

 Born on 2 September 1932, Aslam Azhar is remembered as the founding father of Pakistan Television. After earning a law degree from Cambridge University, he chose not to pursue a legal career but instead immersed himself in the world of performing arts.

Anjum Niaz (1948-2018)

 Before joining journalism, Anjum Niaz taught at the Karachi American School and Pakistan American Council. A master's in English Literature from the Punjab University, she joined the

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

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

Maulana Zafar Ali Khan (1873-1956)

 Writer, journalist and politician, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan belonged to a learned family of Karamabad district, Gujranwala, Punjab. He received his early education in Wazirabad and Patiala.

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.

Farooq Mazhar

 Farooq Mazhar was Pakistan's most prominent sports journalist, television commentator and former Editor of The News. He died on April 28, 2001 in Bahrain enroute to America after a short illness.

Majeed Lahori (1913-1957)

 Majeed Lahori, born Abdul Majid Chohan in 1913 in Gujrat, was truly a people's columnist, according to Khalid Hasan, adding what he wrote remains as delightful today as it was then.