SORRY for being late about Anjum Niaz. But as a woman journalist and a former editor of the now defunct Akhbar-i-Khawateen I have to tell your readers about this remarkable woman and how I miss her.

There is no doubt she was an excellent columnist and diplomatic reporter. But Instead of focusing on her qualities as a journalist, I would talk about her personality as a human being. She had many qualities, and one of them was assiduousness. This quality was evident whenever I — based in Karachi — visited Islamabad.

A visitor needs transport first and foremost. So whenever I visited Islamabad, and called her she would say, “Hold on, let me check my diary”. Then she would say, “Car will reach you at 10: 30”, and then she would hang up. I remember the time when we were in Murree to attend a seminar, and I was lucky to have shared a room with her. She took me around and showed me her house in Murree. In Islamabad she took me to Bani Gala and showed me her land on the edge of a nullah. I think she had planned to build a home there.

Once, when she invited me to lunch at her Islamabad home, I had a glimpse of her work ethic and busy schedule. When I reached her home she was busy working on her document; the computer was set on the dining table, there were two round dining tables, one smaller than the other. It was a frugal lunch spiced with love and care. I had the lunch by myself. She could not join me because she had to meet the deadline for her story. That was her work ethic, which I think all journalists should follow.

I had always seen Anjum in casual working clothes. Once we two were together at a diplomatic reception in Islamabad. She was wearing brighter clothes with light jewelry, looking stunning — a total picture of femininity. An amazing woman, full of life and ready to help any time, has been lost to cancer. Rest in peace Anjum!

Shamim Akhter
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2018