Renowned journalist and expert on Afghanistan affairs Rahimullah Yousafzai died due to protracted illness in Peshawar Thursday night.
According to his family, the veteran journalist was suffering from cancer that caused his death. He was 66.
The funeral prayer will be held at 11am on Friday in his native village Inzargi, Ghundo at Katlang subdivision of Mardan district near Katlang interchange on Swat Expressway.
In a Facebook post, his son confirmed the sad news. Arshad Yousufzai said that his father breathed his last after fighting cancer for over 15 months.
"Saddened to learn of Rahimullah Yousafzai's passing. He was one of Pakistan’s most respected journalists," Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote on his official Twitter handle following the emergence of the sad news.
According to PM Imran, Yousafzai was an opinion maker because his columns were well researched. "My condolences & prayers go to the family."
Saddened to learn of Rahimullah Yousafzai's passing. He was one of Pakistan’s most respected journalists. He was an opinion maker because his columns were well researched. My condolences & prayers go to the family.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 9, 2021
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also expressed heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of veteran senior journalist.
“May Allah bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen”, the army chief was quoted as saying by the DG ISPR.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa, #COAS, expresses heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of veteran senior journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai. “May Allah bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen”, COAS.
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 9, 2021
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry also expressed his heartfelt sorrow and grief over the demise of the senior journalist.
In his condolence message, the minister said an era of journalism had ended with the death of Rahimullah Yousafzai as his grip on Afghan affairs and issues pertaining to border areas were unmatched and no one could reach that level.
He prayed Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant patience to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib condoled the death of Yousafzai, saying the death of such a senior journalist has created a vacuum in the field of journalism.
In his separate message, the minister said Yousufzai continued to highlight the issues of tribal and border areas forcefully at every forum.
Rahimullah Yusufzai was a highly respected journalist of the country, who earned a great name due to his accurate, objective and unbiased reporting on national and international issues, especially on the Afghanistan situation.
He remained associated with the BBC and several other national and international news organisations and proved his mettle.
Before his demise, Rahimullah was the Resident Editor of The News International in Peshawar.
He was a role model for young journalists who always assist them in writing on different issues especially political, security and strategic besides Afghanistan issues.
Keeping in view of the meritorious services, the government of Pakistan has decorated him with prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
Rahimullah Yousafzai has also served as patron-in-chief of Sarhad Sports Writers Association (SSWA) in 1989. He was perhaps the first journalist from SSWP, who travelled to Beijing, China for coverage of the Asian Games 1990.
The governor and chief minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Yousafzai and termed his death is a great loss.
Praising the service of the late journalist, the chief minister said he was an institution and his contributions to journalism would always be remembered.
He said Yousafzai was a true professional and the vacuum created after his death would hardly be fulfilled.
The cabinet of Peshawar Press Club has also expressed grief over the demise of Rahimullah Yousafzai.
More condolences are as follows:
Heartbroken at the death of Rahimullah Yousafzai. A veteran journalist, seasoned analyst & thorough gentleman, his death has left a huge void in the field of journalism. He was one of the most credible voices on the politics of the region, particularly Afghanistan & war on terror
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 9, 2021
Deeply saddened by the passing away of eminent journalist and great human being Rahimullah Yusufzai. We lost an icon of our fast disappearing cultural norms. He will be missed. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/pnzhKweNDw
— Mohammad Sadiq (@AmbassadorSadiq) September 9, 2021
Deeply saddened on the demise of renowned journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai.Sympathies with the bereaved family & prayers for the eternal peace of the departed soul.The valuable services will always be remembered.
— Mahmood Khan (@IMMahmoodKhan) September 9, 2021
إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ pic.twitter.com/PVikgYqFXO
Deeply shocked on the sad demise of veteran journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai sahab. He was an inspiration. He had specialised reporting on Afghanistan & issues related to counterterrorism. May Allah Almighty bless the departed soul in Jannah. My condolences to bereaved family RIP
— Shehryar Afridi (@ShehryarAfridi1) September 9, 2021
Saddened to hear about the passing of Rahimullah Yusufzai. He'll be remembered as one of the finest journalists of Pakistan. My deepest condolences to his family and prayers for the departed soul.
— Abdul Aleem Khan (@aleemkhan_pti) September 9, 2021
Heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of renowned journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai. May Allah Bless his soul & Grant patience to his family to bear this loss Amen! He was an authority on Afghanistan politics.He shall be always missed.
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) September 9, 2021
إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ pic.twitter.com/QjNv8BymNE
I was so shocked to hear the sad demise of veteran journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai. He was a friend of mine and I knew him for the past two decades. His void is irreparable. May Allah rest his soul in paradise. We belong to Allah and to Him, we will return.
— Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) September 9, 2021
Saddened to know about the passing away of senior journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai Sb. May he rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his family. Will remember him for his professionalism, his decency, his dedication to his work and his mild mannered demeanour. pic.twitter.com/FEpTAivFQS
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) September 9, 2021
اسپیکر @AsadQaiserPTI اور ڈپٹی اسپیکر @QasimKhanSuri کا قومی ایوارڈ یافتہ ماہر افغان امور، تجزیہ کار سینئر صحافی رحیم اللہ یوسف زئی کے انتقال پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار۔
— National Assembly of Pakistan🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) September 9, 2021
رحیم اللہ یوسف زئی کا انتقال شعبہ صحافت اور ملک کے لیے ناقابل تلافی نقصان ہے،اسپیکر و ڈپٹی اسپیکر pic.twitter.com/QpE7FuTkuQ
وزیر اعلیٰ پنجاب @UsmanAKBuzdar کا سینئر صحافی رحیم اللہ یوسفزئی کے انتقال پر اظہار افسوس، سوگوار خاندان سے دلی ہمدردی و اظہار تعزیت
— CM Punjab (Updates) (@CMPunjabPK) September 9, 2021
وزیراعلیٰ عثمان بزدار کا رحیم اللہ یوسفزئی کی شعبہ صحافت میں گراں قدر خدمات کو خراج عقیدت
Passing away of Rahimullah Yousufzai today is a great loss not only to his family but also to journalism. A national asset he belonged to a class that’s fast disappearing. I was privileged to interact with him very closely first in a research institute & then in newspapering RIP
— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) September 9, 2021
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