SALEEM Asmi, a former Dawn editor, died late Friday night after a long and courageous struggle against infirmity and pneumonia. He had been wheelchair-bound for a long time but continued to keep his chin up and carry out his social commitments. An experienced journalist who began his career as a young reporter at the Pakistan Times, Lahore, Asmi served in other newspapers also, including the prestigious Dubai daily Khaleej Times, where he was news editor, and finally in Dawn where he was editor from 2000 to 2003. At Dawn he oversaw the launching of three colour magazines — covering science, art (he was an avid art collector with a discerning eye) and book reviews. He also detached the city pages from the main edition and turned them into separate forms. His colleagues were unanimous in their opinion about his qualities as a team leader and his ability to take quick decisions in situations that journalists the world over face as the deadline nears and stories crash into newsrooms to compete for page-one space.

As KT news editor, he overshadowed the editor by his brilliance at page makeup, his succinct headlines capturing the essence of the story and news management. He kept his reporters on their toes and the desk staff on the alert when he learnt from his sources about some news that was going to break. Since Asmi had begun his career as a reporter, he knew a reporter’s strengths and weaknesses. Firm but polite, he had the ability to inspire his colleagues by making broad decisions and soothing runaway nerves. Yet he was a disciplinarian and never failed to come down hard on the recalcitrant. Never afraid of pressures from state and non-state actors, Asmi showed courage in the display of news. It was also his commitment to press freedom that took him to prison during the strike organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists when a military government was in power. May he rest in peace.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2020