In memory of senior journalist Akbar Alam
May 24, 2012
Sometimes it’s not difficult to establish the cause of death of a person. Many journalists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad prayed for the recovery of two very senior journalists D Shaw Khan of ‘The News’ and Hameed Jhelumi of daily ‘Imroze’ who also served the daily ‘Pakistan’ as its editor in Lahore.
Both were overpowered by death early this month despite their treatment by medical specialists. But what about the death of senior journalist Muhammad Akbar Alam who passed away the other day while taking breakfast along with his nephews in Lahore where he had served the daily ‘Jang’ also as chief news editor after premature retirement from the Progressive Papers Limited.
Akbar Alam hailed from a family of journalists headed by M. Abdul Rahim Saqi, who had established the daily Zam Zam in 1937 and played a notable role during the Freedom Movement that culminated in the achievement of Pakistan.
Akbar Alam started his journalistic career by joining the daily ‘Imroze’ in 1966. Most of the senior journalists of the time who headed the teams of the well-reputed dailies, ‘Imroze’ and the ‘Pakistan Times’, including Zahiruddin Babar, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, A.T. Chaudhry, Khawja Asif, Z.A. Suleri and Maqbool Sharif, were all praise for the talent in Akbar Alam. He proved his worth first as edition-in-charge as well as news editor. In early 1990s he joined the daily ‘Pakistan’ as news editor where his performance was lauded by the editor.
As working journalist he spent all his time and energy to the betterment of the organisation he worked for. It was his devotion to journalism and the cause of Pakistan as professional journalist that won the appreciation of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, who, as editor-in-chief of the daily ‘Jang’ eventually asked Akbar Alam to join his newspaper in Lahore. The man who had by now established himself as an honest and hard-working journalist responded positively and served the institution till his retirement.
He worked in the daily ‘Din’ as joint editor and later on served the daily ‘Waqt’ in a responsible position, also writing a well-read column. His columns appeared in the daily ‘Express’ also. He visited some foreign countries, including India, to study the modern trends in journalism.
He was an old Ravian, graduating from the Government College of Lahore. He did his matriculation from the well-known Government Central Model School. Peshawar Corpse Commander General Saeed-ul-Zafar and Adjutant General Amjad Shoaib were among his schoolfellows — all of them true patriot to their backbone — never compromising in matters related to patriotism. His newest engagement was with a private TV channel. He also edited a local daily of the same organisation.
The honest and hard-working professional journalist died as a victim of tension. He has left behind his wife and a daughter.
zasarwar@hotmail.com
Both were overpowered by death early this month despite their treatment by medical specialists. But what about the death of senior journalist Muhammad Akbar Alam who passed away the other day while taking breakfast along with his nephews in Lahore where he had served the daily ‘Jang’ also as chief news editor after premature retirement from the Progressive Papers Limited.
Akbar Alam hailed from a family of journalists headed by M. Abdul Rahim Saqi, who had established the daily Zam Zam in 1937 and played a notable role during the Freedom Movement that culminated in the achievement of Pakistan.
Akbar Alam started his journalistic career by joining the daily ‘Imroze’ in 1966. Most of the senior journalists of the time who headed the teams of the well-reputed dailies, ‘Imroze’ and the ‘Pakistan Times’, including Zahiruddin Babar, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, A.T. Chaudhry, Khawja Asif, Z.A. Suleri and Maqbool Sharif, were all praise for the talent in Akbar Alam. He proved his worth first as edition-in-charge as well as news editor. In early 1990s he joined the daily ‘Pakistan’ as news editor where his performance was lauded by the editor.
As working journalist he spent all his time and energy to the betterment of the organisation he worked for. It was his devotion to journalism and the cause of Pakistan as professional journalist that won the appreciation of Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, who, as editor-in-chief of the daily ‘Jang’ eventually asked Akbar Alam to join his newspaper in Lahore. The man who had by now established himself as an honest and hard-working journalist responded positively and served the institution till his retirement.
He worked in the daily ‘Din’ as joint editor and later on served the daily ‘Waqt’ in a responsible position, also writing a well-read column. His columns appeared in the daily ‘Express’ also. He visited some foreign countries, including India, to study the modern trends in journalism.
He was an old Ravian, graduating from the Government College of Lahore. He did his matriculation from the well-known Government Central Model School. Peshawar Corpse Commander General Saeed-ul-Zafar and Adjutant General Amjad Shoaib were among his schoolfellows — all of them true patriot to their backbone — never compromising in matters related to patriotism. His newest engagement was with a private TV channel. He also edited a local daily of the same organisation.
The honest and hard-working professional journalist died as a victim of tension. He has left behind his wife and a daughter.
zasarwar@hotmail.com
