KARACHI: Senior journalist Anil Datta passed away here on Friday. He was 70.

His friends and colleagues said that Mr Datta was at the Karachi Press Club where his condition deteriorated in the evening. He was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where doctors pronounced him dead. Mr Datta was lately associated with The News.

He graduated from the Government College of Lahore and later settled in Karachi to begin his journalistic career. Before joining The News he had served as sub-editor and reporter at Pakistan Gulf Economist, Business Recorder and Dawn. Mr Datta was known for his polite demeanour as well as his impeccable skills of written and spoken English.

Coming from the classical journalist lineage in Pakistan, he chose to live a bachelor life and dedicated it to his profession and the Karachi Press Club. Belonging to the Chris­tian community, Mr Datta was such a committed Pak­istani that he refused to migrate to the US, where his brothers and other family members are settled and decided to spend his life in Pakistan alone.

KPC and Karachi Union of Journalists in their respective statements expressed deep grief and sorrow over his demise and called it a great loss to the fraternity.

“It is very shocking news for all of us that Datta sahib is not with us anymore,” said Ashraf Khan, president of KUJ. “Mr Datta’s departure is an irreparable loss for us. The members of KUJ are grieved over the demise of Mr Datta, their long-time associate and a gentle soul.”

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2019