ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: Noted journalist Khalid Hasan (1934-2009) was described as the doyen of Pakistani journalists posted abroad at a largely attended obituary reference held in his memory at the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), here on Tuesday.

Information Minister Sherry Rehman in her tribute referred to him as an iconic person among members of the fraternity. Talking about her contacts with him since she became minister she said his main concern remained the betterment of the journalist community, particularly those who were not so well off. He wanted her to institute an award in memory of photojournalist F. Chaudhry. The minister said she would soon act on his recommendation. She suggested that her ministry jointly with journalists’ community should institute a national award in Khalid Hassan’s name.

‘The best tribute would be to publish an anthology of his columns and dispatches,’ said Sherry Rehman.

Former ambassadors Gen (retd) Mahmud Ali Durrani and Hayat Mehdi, senior journalist Minhaj Barna as well as Agha Nasir, Kishwar Naheed, Iftikhar Arif, Shujaullah, Zafar Rathore, Murtaza Solangi, and Mustansar Javed recalled their association with this admirable journalist who loved Pakistan, Sialkot and Lahore and was a most generous friend who kept in touch with all those he knew, some times bombarding them with e-mail enquiries, even about minor events happening in Pakistan.

Agha Nasir, the moderator of the reference, said his dispatches were all intimately topical; one had the impression that he was writing them sitting in Pakistan, and not from Washington. Radio Pakistan Director-General Murtaza Solangi recalled that Khalid Hasan would attend every event connected with Pakistan. ‘He was not an armchair journalist, but one who always supported democracy, sometimes to the chagrin of Pakistan Embassy. But he always insisted on arriving at the embassy properly dressed because, as he was fond of declaring, ‘It is ours!’

Former adviser to the Prime Minister on security Mahmud Ali Durrani remembered that he was zealous of Pakistan’s image and would pull up the embassy every now and then. He said that KH was held in awe there, and also was greatly respected by all the think tanks of America.

Former ambassador Hayat Mehdi and Shujaullah both praised KH for his generosity who never cared for money and went out of his way to accommodate his friends and colleagues. Had he been clever in that respect he would not have had to work for a living to the last days of his life. Iftikhar Arif described Khalid Hasan as one of the most prodigious translators of Urdu literature into English.

Minhaj Barna followed that up in informing the audience of his companionship with KH and said the last enquiry he made to his friend Akmal Aleemi was about the author of this verse Har ravish khak uddaye gi mere baad.

In her presidential remarks, she came out with a litany of memories including his love for food, music and good literature and poetry. Her evocations made the audience gloomy. Host of the function and Safma’s local director Mustansar Javed said he would not need to thank the gathering because every one here was KH’s friend, and they will always remember him as a wonderful man and friend.