Tributes paid to a coolheaded journalist
ISLAMABAD, October 04 2005: Speakers paid glowing tributes to the hard work, honesty and professionalism of noted journalist Khalid Akhtar who died of heart attack last month.
A reference in the memory of Khalid Akhtar was organised at the National Press Club here Monday October 3. It was attended by journalists, friends and family members of Khalid Akhtar. C R Shamsi conducted the proceedings.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, secretary-general of the PML-Q, in his message read out on the occasion, said that working with Khalid Akhtar in ‘The Muslim,Â’ where the senator was editor in 1980s, had been a pleasant experience. He said that Khalid Akhtar was a committed and competent journalist and had been the central personality of the newsroom.
Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that Khalid Akhtar was a man of diverse qualities, depicting a sharp and cool mind in his political analyses as reflected in his column ‘Spectrum.’ His passing away, said the message, is a loss to the field of journalism.
Mahmood Ali Hamdani mentioned his association with Khalid Akhtar in ‘Pakistan Observer’ that was converted into family friendship. He said that Khalid Akhtar’s commitment to the job was inspiring. He also referred to the broadmindedness of the late journalist.
Pervaiz Shaukat, president of the PFUJ, said that Khalid Akhtar had a pro-worker attitude when he was executive editor of ‘The Muslim.’ In ‘The News’ also, he said, “We used to seek his advice in the workers’ struggle and called him a ‘silent soldier’ of workers’ rights.” In spite of enjoying highest positions when people change priorities, he found time to listen to the workers’ problems, said the PFUJ chief.
C R Shamsi said that Khalid Akhtar faced difficult times with a smile and courageously defended the sanctity of the pen from all sorts of pressures. He said that Khalid Akhtar was an institution.
Veteran journalist Ahmad Hasan Alvi said that Khalid Akhtar was professionally sound and despite pressures tried to give space to union stories and when the pressure was beyond his control “he used to advise us to talk to the editor for coverage.
Ahmad Khalid, former president of ‘The Muslim’ Workers Union, said that Khalid Akhtar was a cooperative person and very friendly with his colleagues.
Malik Razzaq, a journalist who was associated with ‘The Muslim,’ said that Khalid Akhtar was hard working and sincere. Recalling his 51-year-old friendship since college days, Razzaq said that Khalid Akhtar was a loving personality.
Sanaullah Khan, former director information, Punjab government, said that Khalid Akhtar always obliged his friends and was a down-to-earth man.
A Quaid-i-Azam University teacher said that Khalid Akhtar was a workaholic who never hesitated in taking the workload of his colleagues though he was not obliged to do that. In this respect, he seemed to be religiously following the golden saying of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah “Work, work and work.” He recalled his ‘The News’ days when Khalid Akhtar used to put in love of labour in editing stories of reporters even to the extent of rewriting them.
Naveed Akhtar and Sadia, son and daughter of Khalid Akhtar, said that he was less a father and more a friend to them. He never talked in anger and arranged resources for them despite heavy odds, they said.
Mrs Khalid Akhtar said that he brought up the children well and was a good companion. She thanked the audience in the end.
Ishaq Chaudhry, Fauzia Shahid, Manzoor Sadiq, Shakil Ahmad and Anjum Khaleeq also spoke on the occasion.
Source: The News
Date:10/4/2005
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