Renowned academic, journalist Dr Mehdi Hasan dies at 85

The academic, a recipient of Sitara-e-Imtiaz, breathed his last in Lahore

Renowned academic and journalist Dr Mehdi Hasan passed away following a protracted illness at the age of 85 in Lahore on Wednesday.

A recipient of Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2012 for services in journalism, Hasan has left behind wife Rakhshanda Hasan and two sons.

According to the Punjab University, his funeral prayers will be offered at the Sukh Chain Housing Society, Multan Road.

He taught at the mass communication department of the Punjab varsity as a professor and served at the Pakistan Press International in the capacities of a subeditor and a reporter during 1961-67.

Late Hasan also served as an elected office-bearer of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) during the same time span.

Several news outlets at home and abroad regularly sought his opinion over various political occurrences in Pakistan. These included Voice of America, BBC News and Deutsche Welle.

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He was also among the few media historians of the country who regularly appeared as a commentator and panellist both on the TV and radio.

His teaching career spanned 50 years, while he also served as the dean of the journalism department as well as mass communication at the Beaconhouse National University.

Hasan was the author of several books on the areas of history, journalism and politics.

In his prolific capacities, he also fulfilled his responsibilities as the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

He received his education at the University of Colorado in the United States on a Fullbright scholarship.

His research was titled "Coverage of Third World Countries in the American Mass Media".

As a favourite passion, Dr Hasan pursued photography and travelled to the far-end of the country to serve it. The journalist was twice elected as the HRCP chairman and five times as the PFUJ office bearer.