ISLAMABAD: Prominent cartoonist and digital artist Shujaat Ali, who served for a number of media houses within and outside Pakistan, passed away due to heart attack.

According to Waqar Saeed, brother-in-law of the deceased, Shujaat Ali was currently serving for Pakistan Air Force on contract basis.

“Shujaat was 54 years old. On Tuesday evening, after arrival from his office, he parked his car outside his house in Bahara Kahu and was going towards his house but fell down.

According to eye witnesses he died on the spot but police was called and body was taken to the Polyclinic where he was pronounced dead due to heart attack,” he said.

He said that the deceased had never got married and was living alone. “So we had to obtain approval from the district administration to receive his body. He was laid to rest at Qasimabad Rawalpindi where his parents were buried,” Mr Saeed said.

Shujaat Ali was also known to be the first court room artist of Pakistan when he was allowed to make pencil sketches of the judges and court proceedings of some famous and historical cases. He had returned to the country after quitting Al Jazeera a few years back. He received many national and international awards in recognition of his work as political cartoonist and digital artist.

Due to his sudden death under mysterious circumstances, many of his friends couldn’t attend his funeral.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2026