Jeddah expats pay condolences to well-known Pakistani journalist
Prominent Saudis, Pakistanis and Indians paid rich tributes to well-known Urdu sports journalist Zafar Iqbal, who died in Chaklala, Pakistan four days ago. He was 60 and leaves behind two daughters and a son.
Zafar Iqbal was a popular figure in the Saudi cricketing community because of his nearly 20-year association as a sports editor with Urdu News, a sister publication of Arab News.
Friends, acquaintances, colleagues, diplomats and sport stars recalled his services in promoting cricket and hockey at a wellattended condolence meeting organized by the Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF) on Friday.
“I had known Zafar since 1978, when he was with Nawa-i-Waqt and Jang (Urdu newspapers),” said Urdu News Editor Absar Syed. “When I met him the first time, I felt as if I had known him for ages because he had a very congenial personality. He attained fame and acclaim with his stories at Jang.”
Absar Syed said that when they got a call from the Jeddah-based Urdu News in 1994, they discussed the proposal among themselves before deciding to head to Saudi Arabia.
Zafar Iqbal worked with Urdu News until 2012 before leaving for Karachi because of deteriorating health.
“All of us knew the ever-smil- ing man as ‘Chief Sahab’ and as ‘Captain,’” said Urdu News Editor in Chief Tarek Mishkhas. “He led us without him knowing it. He was a noble soul and a team player. We never wanted him to leave Urdu News in 2012, but we had to relent because of his poor health. He will remain with us in good memory.”
Shahbaz Ahmed (Senior), the award-winning hockey player from Pakistan who is currently the Pakistan International Airlines station manager in Madinah, said the best aspect of Zafar Iqbal’s journalism was his constructive criticism.
“He would never deride players; he would never run them down. He would make his point very subtly and without hurting any player. In that sense, he was a wonderful man and an exceptionally likable journalist,” he said. “We will surely miss him.”
Pakistan Consul General Aftab A. Khokher said that while he had not personally met Zafar Iqbal, “after having heard so much about him and listening to the glowing tributes in honor of his life, I can understand what a good man he was.”
Khokher said that this was not a happy occasion. “However, the fact that so many people came to the condolence meeting and the fact that the PJF remembered him is something to be happy about. We should never forget the good that people do for us, our community and our nation,” he said.
Jeddah Cricket Association President Mohammed Iqbal Chaudhry said the one quality that endeared him to Zafar Iqbal was his objectivity. “He never took sides,” he said. “He gave equal prominence to all clubs and all sporting associations. He raised the standard of sports journalism in Saudi Arabia.”
PJF Chairman Amir Muhammad Khan and PJF President Shahid Nayeem thanked guests for expressing solidarity with the journalist community. General Secretary Jamil Rathore conducted the proceedings.
Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Press Consul Sohail Ali Khan, Saudi Cricket Center CEO Nadeem Nadwi, Saudi Radio Urdu Section headDr. Mohammad Laiqullah, advertising expert Shahid Haider, poet Anwar Ansari and journalists Mahmood Hasan, Khalid Khurshid, Asad Akram and Arshad Raza.