MANSEHRA: Journalist-turned-politician and writer of many books, Malik Mushtaq Khattana, died of coronavirus here on Friday.

He was admitted to the Ayub Medical Complex Hospital in Abbottabad after he tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

Later, his body was shifted to Mohallah Channia here for the burial.

People from different walks of life, politicians and journalists largely attended the funeral prayers. Later, he was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard.

Khattana was the tehsil president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in Mansehra and an active social worker.

He was a regular column contributor of a local daily, raising community issues through his pen.

Mr Khattana had also remained the president of the local press club and wrote many books, including ‘The Love of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah with the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)’.

He also contested the teshil nazim’s election held under the army ruler Gen retired Pervez Musharraf in 2002, and secured a thumping victory.

Mr Khattana left behind a widow and two sons to mourn his death.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2021