KARACHI:
The Executive Editor of The Express Tribune, Muhammad Ziauddin, has called it a day and will be stepping down from his position this month. One of the country’s most respected journalists, M Ziauddin joined The Express Tribune at its inception stage in 2009.
His decision to step down from the paper brings to an end a career that spanned over 50 years. Earning a Master’s degree in Journalism from Karachi University in 1964, he entered the profession with Pakistan Press International, a local news agency, as a cub reporter in the same year. Over his rich and illustrious career, Ziauddin sahab (as he is known) served as Assistant Editor in the weekly Pakistan and Gulf Economist (PAGE) and in the now defunct Morning News. He then worked as Commerce Editor for The Muslim.
With daily Dawn, a paper with which he had the longest association, he served as Resident Editor in Islamabad and in Lahore as well as the paper’s correspondent in London between 2006 and 2009. He also did a brief stint as Editor of The News in Rawalpindi.
M Ziauddin has long distinguished himself for his reporting and columns, which continue to be read by many all over the world. In 1983-84, he was awarded the APNS best scoop award and he brought honour to the country in 2014 when he was named one of world’s 1,000 information heroes by international body Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) in 2014.
He also served as president of the South Asia Free Media Association between 2002 and 2006 and earlier as Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ Assistant Secretary General when he was elected in 1982-83. He has also been associated with media-related issues like journalism safety and ethics.
In 1977, Ziauddin sb also served as visiting lecturer in his alma mater - the journalism department of Karachi University. However, most of his teaching was done in the newsroom where he groomed and trained hundreds of budding journalists, many of who now hold key positions in the media in Pakistan and abroad.
In response to requests from his colleagues at the paper, he has agreed to continue writing his column on a weekly basis. This will ensure his continued association with the paper in years to come. We will miss you, Ziauddin sahab.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2014.
COMMENTS (22)
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No one could stops the fast passing of time. Thank Allah, I am one of them who know Mr. Ziauddin Sahib, an inborn journalist. A man with sympathetic heart, pure Pakistani and his style of cooperation with junior and peer group bring him great prestige. Though I am not from the profession of journalism but I met him frequently along with Mr. Nasir Malick during Mr. Zia tenure as Bureau Chief and Resident Editor at Dawn Islamabad. What a knowledgeable Zia Bhai is. Today, while browsing the net, I learnt that Mr. Ziauddin has decided to get retirement, it gave me shock. I request him to continue the profession of preaching to the masses; in the past, that was the profession of saints.
We proud on Mr. M. Zia-Ud- Din for the real contribution for Pakistan. No any other journalist can be above or equal in journalism history of Pakistan than him. The Real & True asset for Pakistan. He always disliked his self projection and spend simple life like a great heroes.
Its really good to see Zia disassociating himself from ET which is now stigmatized by Aamir Liaqut. No graceful person would like to end his career in association with a person like Aamir Liaqut.
@Munna It's your age to play with toys. The number of comments in favour of ziauddin sahib explains how much he is liked by the readers. Keep sleeping!
It was an honor to work with you Ziauddin sb. All the best for the future.
A man of untenable integrity, most outstanding among his contemporaries. We will miss you Ziauddin!
The Express tribune will face problems in upholding the professional standards of Mr. M. Ziauddin. But ET keep Mr. Ziauddin on a tight leash so you don't regret leaving him totally. Salams
agreed with Ayesha M. Did nothing for Karachi , but will be coming back to Karachi for his retired life .
@Such bolta hoon .
have the courage to digest the truth .
Good man. Few of him in Pakistan.
Ziauddin is amongst few journalists in this country with credibility and repute of standing up and stating bitter truth. ET will surely be deprived of a great leader, but he must have nurtured others to fil the void.
Journalism will miss you Ziauddin sahib. You were such a cool and nice gentleman to work with.
@ Ayesha M So you are back. You can't resist from showing your true colours. Your Mustafa has even left Karachi. Wake up.
I think a great journalist like you could never retire. Unless you found the leadership changes at ET with a world famous PhD as president of the ET group so unacceptable that you felt compelled to retire.
If im not mistaken this decision to step down is linked to the appointment of the new President of Express Media?
He could have done more for Karachi by pushing for local government for the city
He is great guy. In 2002 i met him when for my internship at DAWN. Sensible man.
Zia sahab also fondly known to many of us as 'Zia bhai' will always be remembered for laying down some of the finest traditions of integrity and independence in Pakistani journalism. His pivotal role in launching DAWN's weekly EBR will always ne remembered for its ground-breaking contribution to the evolution of economic journalism in Pakistan. I hope we will continue to follow Zia sahab's writings in Pakistan's media. Farhan Bokhari, Journalist, Islamabad.
Ziauddin Saheb,
Your retirement leaves the Pakistani journalism poorer, by a large margin. In honest and professional journalism, you set standards that are difficult to match.
May we continue to see your writings for which now you have more time.
An outstanding career. Happy retirement, Zia Sahib.