WASHINGTON: Veteran journalist Afzal Khan died in Arlington, a town in the US state of Virginia, on Thursday after a long illness. He was 80.

Born in Nowshehra, a village near Sialkot, in 1937, Khan Sahib was a graduate of the Government College, Lahore, and worked for the Associated Press of Pakistan news agency for more than 35 years.

He was APP’s correspondent in Washington for 10 years — from 1995 to 2005.

Khan Sahib also wrote regular columns and news features for Arab News, Khaleej Times, Dawn, The Nation, Pakistan Times and Hindustan Times.

He was one of the founders of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and played a key role in the struggle for freedom of expression in Pakistan, particularly during the dark days of the Zia era.

He also promoted the cause of religious tolerance, political freedom and human rights through his writings and was widely respected for his role in the struggle for democracy.

Khan Sahib belonged to a generation of journalists that regarded journalism as a mission and devoted their entire lives to it.

His family wishes to bring his body to Pakistan for burial, but funeral prayers will also be held in Virginia. The venue and date will be decided later.

“Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of veteran journalist Afzal Khan. I had interacted with him during my previous stint in the embassy in 1999,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary in a message to Khan Sahib’s family.

“He was an accomplished journalist and served his country well. He will be missed and will be remembered as an honest and straightforward professional,” the ambassador wrote.

“May his soul rest in peace and may Allah grant his family the strength to bear this loss.”

The Pakistani-American Press Association offered condolences to the bereaved family. “Khan Sahib had a towering personality and has set a glorious example for other journalists to follow,” said the association in a message to the family.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2017