Remembering Asad Alam

Alam, 67, had been suffering from lung cancer

LAHORE: Syed Asad Alam passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 67. He had been suffering from lung cancer for a year.

He is survived by his wife Alia Asad Khan, his sons Advocate Ahmed Rafay Alam, Shahzil Asad Khan, and his daughters Natasha Alam and Shireen Asad Khan.

Alam was born in Rawalpindi on December 7, 1947, to Mr and Mrs Syed Mahmood Alam.

Alam received his early education at St Anthony’s School and went to Aitchison College from where he graduated in 1968 as prefect of Godley House. He was on the tennis team at the college.

His friends from Aitchison recalled a prank he had once played in school – hoisting a skeleton from the Biology Department on to the central dome of the Old Building. Alam completed his bachelor’s degree from Government College. He briefly worked as a manager at Republic Motors before travelling to London as a dealer of rare antiquities.  There he married Kathleen Kisting in 1973 and had two children with her Ahmad Rafay Alam and Natasha Alam.  Following his divorce in 1987, Alam married Alia Asad Khan in 2013.

An avid sportsman, Alam had the honour of representing Pakistan in the international tennis arena and was a member of the Pakistan Davis Cup Team. He was assistant manager of the Pakistan Cricket Team for a while.

Alam was known in Lahore as a connoisseur of the finer things in life. He could be regularly found at the Lahore Gymkhana where he played an active role in promoting the club’s sports and social activities.

Alam was also a keen hiker and would regularly visit the hill stations to organise treks and walks; he was a member of the Nathiagali Club.

Alam was known for his charm and wit.  His friends eulogise him as Lord Alam, Earl of Upper Mall where he could often be seen driving his 1947 MG Model-T coupe to the golf-course.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2014.