LIAQUAT Ali Khan asked him to join Dawn in January 1944, but Zamir Siddiqi’s career as a journalist began rather surreptitiously. As a student at Aligarh University he managed to get some interesting information about the ongoing debates at the Academic Council and committee meetings. He filed fascinating stories for dailies like Hindustan Times, Delhi and The Hindu, Madras. The Vice Chancellor was annoyed but was unable to detect the source.

Expelled from Aligarh University in 1937 he joined National Call, Delhi, and in 1940 moved to the United Press of India (UPI) as Bureau Chief, Peshawar. With Pothan Joseph as editor, Zamir joined Dawn in December 1943 and became a reporter in 1944 in the most tumultuous era of South Asian history, leading to the fall of the British Empire and the emergence of Pakistan.

He quit Dawn and reached Karachi before August 14, 1947 to serve as Bureau Chief of Associated Press of America, which position he held till his death. He also remained Bureau Chief of UPI in Karachi. In 1963 he took over as editor of a Karachi evening paper, Daily News, but was forced to resign in 1968 owing to the displeasure of the then Information Minister Khawaja Shahabuddin on a story on the health condition of President Ayub. For a few years in the 1970s he published his own newspaper, Weekly Mail, and afterwards remained a correspondent for daily Jang, London.

He died today 32 years ago at the age of 70 while still in harness. More than three decades have elapsed, but the memories of this outstanding journalist and his pleasant personality are still fresh. May his soul rest in peace.

Jaleel Bin Hamid Zubairi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2017