LAHORE: Senior journalist and analyst Arif Nizami passed away here on Wednesday after remaining hospitalised for around two weeks. He was laid to rest at Miani Sahib Graveyard in the evening.

Mr Nizami had suffered a heart attack and was under treatment at a private hospital, but could not survive. He has left behind his wife and sons Ali, Asad and Yousaf.

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, PTI leader Jehangir Tareen, PML-N’s Khwaja Saad Rafique and a large number of journalists attended the funeral.

Son of Hameed Nizami, the founder of Nawa-i-Waqt media group, Arif Nizami was born in October 1948 and served as the editor of English daily The Nation for around two decades.

The deceased remained editor of The Nation and Pakistan Today newspapers

He quit the organisation after developing differences with his uncle, Majid Nizami, and launched daily Pakistan Today that he also edited. He hosted TV talk shows for a couple of private channels.

He also served as caretaker federal minister in 2013 and was president of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.

Various political leaders offered their condolences on his death.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said: “Saddened to learn of the passing of veteran journalist, editor, and political commentator Arif Nizami. My condolences and prayers go to his family.”

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed called Mr Nizami’s demise a “personal loss” to him. “May Allah have mercy on the deceased,” he added.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said he had a long relationship with Mr Nizami. “His father and my grandfather struggled together during the Pakistan Movement. He was just like a family member for me,” he added.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif visited the bereaved family on Friday and condoled with Mr Nizami’s sons.

He said the veteran journalist was an outspoken, upright person with a democratic thinking. The late Nizami was adept in finding a middle way out of difficult times and problems and creating a consensus among differing parties, he added.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2021