Senior journalist Mushtaq Paracha passes away

NOWSHERA: President of Nowshera Press Club and senior journalist, Mushtaq Ahmad Paracha, passed away due to cardiac arrest early Saturday.

The funeral prayer for the deceased was offered at Nowshera Kalan Town in Nowshera and later laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Banar, Nowshera Kalan.

People from all walks of life, including journalists, political, social, religious, and government figures, relatives and well-wishers attended his janaza in a large number.

The deceased was the father of Engr Yousaf Ishaq Paracha, brother Iftikhar Paracha, Principal Government Higher Secondary School Nowshera Cantt No. 1 and ADEO Nowshera Cantt Circle, and the father-in-law of Uzair Paracha.

Mushtaq Paracha suddenly fell ill at night after a brief two-day illness. He was being taken to a local hospital but he passed away before reaching the health facility. Mushtaq Paracha began his journalistic career in 1985 with the daily newspaper Jihad and later worked as a crime reporter under the editorship of Abdul Waheed Yousafi at Daily Mashriq, Peshawar.

Recognising his dedication, hard work, and passion for journalism, the management of the daily appointed him as the district correspondent for Nowshera.

In 2002, when Geo News launched its transmission, he was appointed as their correspondent from Nowshera. Additionally, he provided his journalistic services for the English newspaper The News International, news agency APP, and Daily Jang.

He was widely respected in social, political, religious, and governmental circles due to his professional integrity. Mushtaq Paracha always upheld responsibility in journalism and promoted positive and truthful reporting not just in Nowshera but across the country.

He was known as a journalist, who always reported with honesty and worked in the public interest. His contributions to journalism were acknowledged nationwide, and his commitment to ethical reporting made him a highly esteemed journalist.

As the president of Nowshera Press Club, he served multiple terms and took significant steps for the welfare of journalists. He dedicated his efforts to solving the issues faced by journalists and consistently upheld high moral and professional standards in his career.

Mushtaq Paracha was recognized as a distinguished journalist not only in Nowshera but throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His contributions will always be remembered, and his work would continue to serve as a guiding light for aspiring journalists.

His funeral prayer was attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister Pervez Khattak, provincial Minister Mian Khaliq-ur-Rehman, Pirzada Shamsul Ameen of Manki Sharif, provincial president of Awami National Party Mian Iftikhar Hussain, former minister Barrister Mian Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami Abdul Haq Sani, deputy head of Darul Uloom Haqqania Akora Khattak Maulana Rashidul Haq Haqqani, Maulana Yousaf Shah, former minister Syed Zahir Ali Shah, MPAs Zar Alam Khan, and Ashfaq Khan as well as local political, social, and religious leaders.

Meanwhile, a condolence meeting was held at Nowshera Press Club, where his journalistic services were highly praised.

Nowshera Press Club senior member and finance secretary Haji Zahoor Ahmad headed the reference. The meeting was attended by Wajid Ali, Shahenshah Khalid Nazir, Kamran Khattak, Muhammad Shahid, Bakht Bisyar, Nisar Ahmad Khan, Syed Qasim Shah, Nasir Khan, Tafheem-ur-Rehman, Noor Khaliq Khattak, Jehanzaib Khattak, Pir Tajmir Shah, Syed Waliullah Shah, and other members. The participants paid rich tribute to the late journalist for his journalistic and organizational services.

The participants said that Mushtaq Paracha was a skilled and seasoned journalist. He played a vital role in the construction of the Nowshera Press Club building and worked tirelessly for the welfare of its members.

His death, they said, had created a void in the journalism of Nowshera that would take years to fill. They said that his passing has deprived Nowshera of a hardworking, competent and experienced journalist.