KARACHI: Senior journalist, author and rights activist Akhtar Balouch passed away on Sunday after a brief illness. He was in his 50s.

He left behind a widow and three children. His funeral prayer was held at a local mosque in Garden after Zuhr prayer.

Mr Balouch was suffering from fever for the past few days, said his close friend and veteran photographer Akhter Soomro.

He underwent some tests on Saturday and doctors while informing him about his low blood pressure prescribed some medicines. However, he died before midnight.

Mr Soomro said that Balouch originally hailed from Mirpurkhas had worked in different media organisations. He was an office-bearer of the Hyderabad Press Club, coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in Sindh, head of an NGO and a regular contributor for Dawn.com.

He authored three books on Karachi and the fourth one — Teesri Jins — on transgender persons.

“He was a highly respected journalist and writer and an authority on Karachi’s political dynamics and cultural heritage,” said a statement issued by the HRCP.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2022