THE recent passing of veteran newsman Naseer Ahmad, better known to his colleagues as Naseer Sahib, came as a shock to all who had ever worked with the humble and gentle soul that he was.

Naseer Sahib played a long and fruitful innings at Dawn, holding the fort as part of the city section with aplomb. Having known him for nearly two decades, he showed me the ropes as a trainee subeditor, guiding me in the finer points of policy and the organisational style. He was generous with his time and knowledge, and always had a smile on his face.

A man of many talents, he had a razor-sharp wit, wrote with a pen that had a poetic and literary flair, and, above all, had a heart of gold. What is more, even though he was battling a terrible illness, he showed tremendous courage and dedication when he insisted upon coming to work after his condition improved slightly. As he entered the Metro section — much frailer and weaker — he received a standing ovation from his colleagues.

Alas, he will no longer be around to consult on professional and personal issues, or to share a joke. The void he leaves will be very hard to fill. Khuda Hafiz, Naseer Sahib. You will be dearly missed.

QAM
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2021