Alvi, Shahbaz, Bilawal pay tribute as condolences pour in

Ag Agencies

KARACHI: Politicians, lawmakers and journalists across the political divide on Tuesday expressed their sorrow and offered their condolences to the Rahman family after Daily Jang publisher and printer Mir Javed Rahman passed away.

President Arif Alvi offered his sincere condolences to the family and prayed for the departed soul. Mir Javed Rahman has unparalleled contributions for journalism in Pakistan, the president said in tweet. “How sad. Mir Javed Rehman passed away. Very soft spoken and nice man. Had known him and his family all my life. Talked to family yesterday to find out about his health. May Allah give them the strength to bear this loss,” he tweeted.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan also paid tribute to the late journalist. In a condolence message, he praised Mir Javed Rahman for promoting objective journalism, journalistic values and development of media in Pakistan and prayed for him.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Awan also expressed deep grief and sorrow over his demise. In a condolence message, she said the services of Mir Javed Rahman for the profession of journalism “would be remembered for a long time”.She prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif also offered his condolences, saying Mir Javed Rahman had the honour of leading a group that had always stood by Pakistan. “The services of Mir Javed-ur-Rahman for journalism and for the people of Pakistan cannot be forgotten. The demise of Mir Javed-ur-Rahman has created a void that can never be filled,” Sharif said in his message.

PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb also offered her party’s condolences, saying the Daily Jang publisher gave his life to the pursuit of the truth. “The tireless efforts of Mir Javed-ur-Rahman for the promotion of fearless journalism in Pakistan will always be remembered. We pray that the Almighty grants his family the patience to bear this loss,” she said. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Tuesday in a press release, appreciated the services of Mir Javed Rahman for journalism in the country and said he was an advocate for freedom of expression.

Bilawal Bhutto prayed to Almighty Allah to grant peace to the departed soul and strength and fortitude to the family members to bear this irreparable loss with equanimity.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement offered his condolences to the family of the deceased. He lauded Mir Javed Rahman’s services for the Jang Group, especially its magazine Akhbar-e-Jahan. Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi described the late journalist as “a humble and sympathetic man”.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, while talking to Geo News, said that the deceased was a down to earth man who never raised his voice.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira remembered Mir Javed Rahman as a leader of journalists. “Mir Javed Rahman led the Jang Group after the demise of his father. The demise of Mir Javed Rahman heralds the end of an era in fearless journalism,” Kaira told Geo News.

PML-N senior leader Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique regretted that Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman could not meet his brother as he was under NAB’s detention.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also extended her condolences and described Mir Javed Rahman as an “important personality in the field of journalism who always stood up for freedom of expression”.

Senior journalist Waqar Azimi said the news had come as a big shock since the deceased was like an elder brother to him. “This is a very disappointing news. He was like my elder brother. I cannot believe that he’s not with us, it is a big shock. Mir Javed Rahman was a very good man,” Azimi said while talking to Geo News. “He used to get tear eyed when we were sitting and talking about religion. He was a creative-minded journalist who promoted Urdu journalism,” the senior journalist said reflecting on his time with the deceased.