ISLAMABAD, March 23: Ashraf Hashmi, senior journalist and father-in-law of Dawn Staff Reporter Syed Irfan Raza, died here on Friday after a protracted illness. He was 67. He was uncle of BBC staffer Faraz Hashmi and father-in-law of Dawn’s Staff Reporter Syed Irfan Raza.

According to family sources, Mr Hashmi suffered a heart attack on Friday noon and was immediately rushed to the KRL Hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead.

He was laid to rest at the Islamabad Graveyard in presence of a sizable number of his family members, friends, journalists and people belonging to media organisations.

Ashraf Hashmi leaves behind a wife, a son and four daughters to mourn his death.

Ashraf Hashmi started his journalistic career in the early ‘60s and worked in various newspapers on different positions, including daily Hurriyat, daily Jassarat and The Muslim before becoming resident editor of The Pakistan Times.

Qul for the late Hashmi will be held on Sunday at 3pm at his residence: House No.273, Street 75, G-9/3.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Durrani and his junior minister Tariq Azeem have expressed their deep sorrow and grief over the sad demise of journalists Ashraf Hashmi.

In a condolence message the ministers paid homage to the services rendered by late Hashmi.

Secretary Information and Broadcasting Khushnood Akhtar Lashari and Principal Information Officer, Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed have also expressed their grief over the demise of Ashraf Hashmi and prayed for the departed soul.