KARACHI, July 10: A senior journalist and trade union activist, Zafar Rizvi, who had been in charge of the daily Jang’s foreign desk for the last 18 years, died of heart attack in the Liaquat National hospital on Wednesday morning. He was 73.

Mr Rizvi was admitted to the hospital with stomach ailment and was operated upon on Monday.

His funeral prayer was offered after Zuhar prayer in Jamia Masjid and Imambargah Bab-ul-Ilm, North Nazimabad. He was buried in Mewa Shah’s Haider Bagh graveyard. A large number of journalists and trade union activists attended his funeral.

Soyem will be held after Juma prayers at Imambargah Babul Ilm.

He leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter.

Zafar Rizvi, a thorough professional, also took active part in trade union activities from progressive bodies’ platform.

His career spanning over half a century, Zafar Rizvi, or Zafar Bhai, as he was affectionately called by all his colleagues, remained a committed and hard working deskman. During his 40-year association with Jang, he also remained its news editor for 11 years.

Till just before he was admitted to the hospital early this week, he had been attending his office regularly.

During pre-partition days, before he joined journalism, he was an activist of the Indian Communist Party. He had received a gunshot wound in Kanpur, and also served a prison term for his activities in undivided India.

He began his journalistic career with the daily Anjam and in 1962 joined Jang.

He was a founder member of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

He held various posts in the PFUJ. He remained secretary and president of the Karachi Union of Journalists. He was also one of the founder members of the Jang Employees Union and served as its secretary.

A simple and unassuming person, Zafar Rizvi was firm and uncompromising when it came to certain principles that he held dear to his heart.

Chairman of the All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation Abdul Hameed Chhapra, the KUJ’s President Qamarullah Chowdhry and Secretary Rana Khalid, the Herald Employees Union’s President Latif Baloch and Secretary Shafiuddin Ashraf Karachi Press Club’s President Sabihuddin Ghausi and Secretary Najeeb Ahmad have condoled the death of Zafar Rizvi.

Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro has also condoled the death of Mr Rizvi.