Senior journalist succumbs to Covid-19 in Peshawar

Fakharuddin Syed passes away despite plasma therapy

PESHAWAR:  

A senior journalist has succumbed to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in the provincial capital, making him the first media casualty of the virus in the province.

Fakharuddin Syed, who worked for a private news channel, had been admitted to the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) a few days ago in critical condition with shortness of breath and chest pain.

HMC officials said that he was kept on a ventilator for a day and was even provided plasma transfusions to help fight the virus. The hospital’s medical director Shehzad Akbar said Syed’s condition had stabilised but on Thursday evening, they lost him unexpectedly.

Expressing remorse over Syed’s demise, Akbar said the city has lost its voice.

The funeral prayers of the seasoned journalist, who remained a cabinet member of the Peshawar Press Club, were offered in Gulbahar 2 with a large number of journalists and media professionals in attendance. He was then laid to rest in Peshawar.

Later, Adviser to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that the provincial government was deeply saddened over the death of Syed. The journalist community has lost a talented and hardworking fellow and his services will always be remembered, he said, adding that he was also working on the frontlines against the virus.

CM Mehmood Khan, he said, has announced Rs1 million in financial assistance for his family.