ISLAMABAD, March 18: Writers and intellectuals here on Sunday paid tribute to the courage and intellect of Ahmad Ali Khan, the former Editor-in-Chief of Dawn who passed away in Karachi last week.

“Khan Saab was an icon and a symbol of honest journalism who fought for freedom of the press,” they said at a reference arranged by the Pakistan Intellectual Forum (PIF).

Asadullah Khan Mungrani said Khan Saab fully utilised his responsibilities in defending people’s rights, hopes and aspirations.

Offering his condolences to the journalist community and in particular to those who learnt from his wisdom, intellect and skill during his decades-long stay with Dawn, Mungrani said his death was a great loss to English journalism, both at the quality and production levels.

Hashim Abro of PIF said, “Khan Saab was a wonderful and dedicated man who taught generations of journalists how to write articles and columns.

“It was the inspiration of Khan Saab that many of juniors and seniors from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology and the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, adopted journalism as their career. “I consider myself really lucky to have met him during my campus days. He was a man whose memory and influence I will always cherish,” said Abro.

Prof Bhajandas said the death of Khan Saab was a great loss to Pakistani English journalism and he was such a remarkable person whose dedication to media ethics and quality would always be hailed by all mediapersons.

Other speakers on the occasion demanded establishment of Ahmed Ali Khan Chair in all leading universities of Pakistan, especially in Islamabad and Karachi, as a tribute to this ‘jewel of journalism’. They said the Herald Group of Publications should also initiate an annual ‘Ahmed Ali Khan Excellence Award’ for the talented journalists both from the print and electronic media.— Our Reporter