KARACHI: Parveen Saeed Haroon was laid to rest on Thursday after funeral prayers at her residence attended by hundreds of people including senior politicians, government functionaries, business elite, members of civil society, family members, friends and relatives.

Mrs Saeed Haroon passed away late Wednesday afternoon after a protracted illness. She was 81. Her funeral prayers were offered at her residence Seafield, Abdullah Haroon Road, which were led by Bari Mian, son of the late Maulana Jamaluddin Abdul Wahhab Farangi Mahali.

Later, she was laid to rest at KMC Graveyard Qayyumabad in DHA Phase VII Extension.

Among others, the funeral was attended by Sindh minister Nisar Khuhro, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed of PML-Q, senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, Sharmila Farooqi of PPP, secretary general of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) Sarmad Ali and chairman Pakistan Broadcasters Association Shakeel Masud.

Mrs Saeed Haroon is survived by her five offspring — sons Abdullah Hussain Haroon, former Speaker Sindh Assembly and Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN; and Hameed Haroon, the CEO of Dawn Media Group; and daughters — Sherood Ali Khan, Roweena Askari and journalist Fahimeh Fifi Haroon.

Meanwhile, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid has in a message expressed heartfelt condolences over the death of Mrs Saeed Haroon.

President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors and other office-bearers also issued a condolence statement, praying to God Almighty to rest her soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.

The Pakistan Herald Workers Union also issued a statement condoling the death of Mrs Saeed Haroon.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014