Top journalist of Pakistan Maqbool Shariff dies
Pakistan Times Staff Report

LAHORE: Pakistan’s top journalist Maqbool Shariff, a venerated soul by all parameters died in Lahore, the metropolis of Punjab on Saturday, leaving behind countless friends and admirers to mourn this tragedy till time without end.

With age of almost 74, Maqbool after struggling against the disease for years, breathed his last in a private hospital of Lahore, before he could see the dawn of Saturday, April-23.

Shariff, a lawyer by scholastics perspective and popularly known as ‘Judge Sahib’ by his fans opted to join the profession of journalism to take the voice of the poor to the corridors of power through his works in the shape of news stories and analysis in a free, fair and frank style.

Though a graduate in law with marvelous command on the English jurisprudence and the Islamic statutes, Maqbool joined the English news daily of Lahore ‘The Pakistan Times’ as a reporter in early 1960s.

His devotion, dedication and zest for journalism, eventually placed him at the highest slot as the Editor-in-Chief, a position which was once held by the world-renowned distinguished and illustrious poet of Pakistan, late Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

As a reporter, his foremost choice was court reporting, a position he worked in the then prestigious newspaper for years in this capacity. Subsequently, he was elevated as Chief Editor in early 80's during the regime of President Zia-ul-Haq.

Maqbool Shariff quit PT in early 90s when Progressive Paper's Ltd [PPL] came under severe financial crisis and—finally started legal practice at superior courts, as an Advocate, a career he held till his demise.

Late Maqbool Shariff was visiting professor of many universities at home and abroad. He served as a much-admired teacher in the Mass Media department of the University of the Punjab in 1970s. He was also an external and internal examiner of the University for it’s’ curriculum of Journalism.

As a matter of fact, Maqbool Shariff had devoted his entire life to the welfare of the journalist community in Pakistan. He was the first Secretary to the Tribunal, who gave the first wage board award ensuring minimum wages for all categories of the newspaper and news agencies employees, better terms and conditions of employment and protection to the profession of journalism.

He came from a very rich and socially highly-placed family of Lahore—yet Maqbool was a journalist by his own choice being a committed soul to the ethics of the profession. He never expected nor did he ask for any favor from the people in power and did not ever compromise on his pragmatic principles.

Late Maqbool Shariff was a conservative in an era, dominated by the leftist journalists but socially, he was loved by every-one with adore.

As Husnain Hekal in the epoch, when General Zia-ul-Haq was in power as the Chief Marshall Law Administrator and President of Pakistan, the Chief Editor of ‘The Pakistan Times’, Maqbool Shariff was amongst the few journalists one can count on finger-tips who advised Zia-ul-Haq to spare the life of the deposed Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Maqbool Shariff was laid to rest in Gulberg graveyard in the afternoon Saturday amid every eye filled with tears. The funeral was largely attended by his admirers, colleagues and journalists belonging to electronic and print media and relatives.

"Qul" will be held after Maghrib prayers at Shariff Colony Gulberg today, Sunday.

Info Minister expresses deep grief

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Maqbool Shariff, a veteran journalist.

In a condolence massage, the minister said he was a journalist of high caliber who had contributed to the profession in multidimensional way.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

CM's Condolence Message

Punjab Chief Minister, Ch. Pervaiz Elahi has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the demise of veteran journalist and former Chief Editor, 'The Pakistan Times', Maqbool Sharif.

In a condolence message, the Chief Minister paid rich tributes to the services of late Maqbool Sharif in the field of journalism.

He prayed for the rest the of departed soul in eternal peace and grant of courage to the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.

Perspective

Very close friendship between Maqbool Shariff and Mumtaz Hamid Rao, Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan’s first daily E-newspaper, ‘Pakistan Times’ goes back to early 60s when both were cub reporters in ‘The Pakistan Times’ and Pakistan Press International [PPI] in Lahore.

Both used to share their news stories as well as perceptions plus news sources.

Ideologically, professionally and politically, both were pragmatic and always worked within the bonds of professional ethics, cultural and social values and always kept interest of the State, still in fancy, supreme.

TIMES Group Shocked

TIMES Group of Publications, the pioneer of E-journalism in Pakistan with daily E-newspapers, ‘Pakistan Times’, ‘Kashmir Tribune’ [in English] and ‘Daur-e-Jadeed’ [in Urdu] as its preliminary journals has expressed deep shock over the sad and sad demise of the eminent journalist Maqbool Shariff.

Through a condolence message to the bereaved family, the Chairman of the Group, Mumtaz Hamid Rao, Editor ‘Pakistan Times’, the first independent daily E-newspaper of Pakistan said on Saturday that the death of Maqbool Shariff has deprived the nation of a journalist of unprecedented caliber and intellect.

‘Not only that Maqbool Shariff was a soul with unique commitments, but was also a source of inspiration and strength for his associates’, Rao said by adding; ‘in his death, I have lost a dear friend of more than four decades, a stanch professional ally and an icon for the new generations which will be stepping into the arena of journalism in Pakistan—in times to come.’ The sweet memoirs of late Maqbool Shariff shall be long remembered by all those who knew him as an erudite personality.

Unfortunately, ‘Pakistan Times’ could not benefit from the intellectual contributions of Maqbool Shariff who had conveyed a personal message to me through a mutual friend, Pakistan’s noted journalist Rafiq Goraya, just a few days back that he would do so the moment, he recovers from ailment, Rao said with anguish by adding; ‘Alas, Maqbool could give me a fêted patronage.’

‘The Executive Editor of the E-daily ‘Pakistan Times’ Raza Mumtaz and the each and every member of the Editorial Staff joins me to express our heartfelt condolences on this tragedy. May Allah Almighty bless the soul of Maqbool Shariff in eternal peace in the Heavens and give every member of his family resolute courage and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Amen’, the message added.●