KARACHI: Photo­journa­list Hassan ul Huq, popularly known as Sangrami, passed away in Vaughan, a northern municipality of greater Toronto, on Monday night, according to information that reached here on Wednesday. He was 66.

Mr Sangrami had an open heart surgery some eight weeks ago, but developed complications afterwards. He was again rushed to hospital, where he died. He was a familiar face at Karachi Press Club and took an active part in journalists’ trade union activities during the 1970s and 1980s. He was among the activists who often led protest rallies.

Mr Sangrami was among the journalists who were jailed during Gen Ziaul Haq’s martial law for taking part in the campaign for press freedom.

He started his career in former East Pakistan. But once trouble started in the eastern wing, he moved to Karachi with his family by undertaking an arduous journey through Nepal.

His longest stint as a photographer was with daily Masawat. When the newspaper was shut down by Gen Zia, he remained out of job for a long time, and survived on freelance work. He briefly worked at Dawn before migrating to Canada about a decade ago. Even in Canada he was equally active in social work in the Asian community as an honest and dedicated photographer.

He was a close companion of Pakistani newsmen settled in Canada, including Latafat Siddiqui, Najmul Hasan and Intezar Zaidi with whom he worked on a pro bono basis. They described Mr Sangrami as a simple person who was a committed photographer with extraordinary skills and political sense.

Mr Sangrami is survived by his widow and three children.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2021