Veteran JI leader dies

LAHORE : Veteran Jamaat-i-Islami leader and senior journalist Safdar Ali Chaudhri breathed his last on Saturday. He was 76.

He is survived by two daughters and three sons including senior reporter of The News Lahore, Munawwar Hasan Chaudhri. Known for his mannerism, Safdar Chaudhri remained JI’s information secretary for over two decades, under three party heads including JI founder Maulana Abul Aala Maudoodi, Mian Tufail Muhammad and Qazi Hussain Ahmad.

He remained JI Director Public Relations till his retirement. He also served as the editor of Weekly Asia for many years.

Born in Amritser and migrated to Pakistan in 1947, Safdar Chaudhri remained committed to the cause of Islam and Pakistan all his life.

His second son Muzaffar Naeem Chaudhri embraced martyrdom while fighting against the Indian occupant army in Sopore, Indian occupied Kashmir, in 1994.

Safdar Chaudhri joined Islami Jamiat Talaba as college student and was elected its Nazim for West Pakistan during the late sixties. He enjoyed great respect among media people and politicians for his resolute commitment to his professional and ideological causes.