RAWALPINDI, Sept 12: Zaigham Zaidi, one of Pakistan’s best known photo journalists, is no more. He died on Monday, aged 76, after a three-month coma and a protracted illness of four years.

Mr Zaidi, who is survived by two wives — one of them being journalist Rubab Aisha — three sons and one daughter, was buried on Monday.

Syed Zaigham Hussain Zaidi, had all along been a photographer after migrating to Pakistan in 1947 from his home town of Muzaffarnagar in India’s Uttar Pradesh state. But he made his mark during his stints with the daily Jang in Rawalpindi and later with the Pakistan Times and daily Musawat.

He had also been the personal photographer of the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto when they held the office of prime minister.

Mr Zaidi was given the President’s Pride of Performance award in 1991 for his extraordinary contribution to the profession of photo journalism.

Some of his best pictures related to the period of President Ayub Khan, Pakistan’s 1965 war with India, the 1970 elections, Mr Bhutto’s tenure as prime minister, the 1972 Shimla peace accord between Pakistan and India and the 1974 Islamic summit conference held in Lahore.

An exhibition of his best photo pictures was organised three years ago by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.

The qul ceremony will be held on Wednesday at house No.150, Street 16, sector 1, Gulshanabad, Adiala Road, Rawalpindi.