Senior journalist Safdar Qureshi dies

Eminent journalist Safdar Ali Qureshi dies of cardiac arrest.

ISLAMABAD:

Eminent journalist Safdar Ali Qureshi died of cardiac arrest here on Thursday evening, family sources told The Express Tribune. He was 83 and leaves behind five brothers and four sisters. His funeral will be taken out from House No 4-B, Street 12, F-8/3 after Friday prayers and laid to rest at I-11 Graveyard.

Mr Qureshi joined journalistic profession in late 50s after completion of his education from Government College, Lahore.

He worked as Director-General of the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency from 1967 to 1980 and retired from the profession.

He also served as Director-General of the Islamic International News (IIN). Mr Qureshi also played a pivotal role in furthering the cause of Asian journalists through the platform of the Afro-Asian Journalists Association which was conceived and sponsored by three great Asian statesmen -- Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Chinese Premier Chou-en-Lai and Malaysian President Dr Tanku Abdul Rehman.

He also remained President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) for two terms in late 60s and played a very active role in the struggle for freedom of the Press and rights of the journalists.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has expressed sorrow over the sudden demise of the journalist. APP’s Managing Director Muhammad Riaz and staff of APP have expressed their condolences over the sad demise of Mr Qureshi.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2011.