Jeddah expats pay tribute to well-known Pakistani journalist

Pakistani Consul Geneal Aftab A. Khokher speaks at the condolence meeting.

JEDDAH: SIRAJ WAHAB
Prominent Saudis, Pakistanis and Indians have paid rich tributes to well-known Urdu sports journalist Zafar Iqbal who died four days ago in Chaklala, Pakistan. He was 60 and leaves behind two daughters and a son.
He was a popular figure in the Saudi cricketing community because of his nearly 20-year association as sports editor with Urdu News, a sister publication of Arab News.
Friends, acquaintances, colleagues, diplomats and sports stars recalled his services in promoting cricket and hockey at a well-attended 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 the two of them got an offer from Jeddah-based Urdu News in 1994, they discussed the proposal carefully before deciding to move to Saudi Arabia.
Zafar Iqbal worked with Urdu News until 2012 before resigning because of ill health. He left the Kingdom and returned to Pakistan because of deteriorating health.
“All of us knew the ever-smiling man as ‘Chief Sahab’ and as ‘Captain,’” said Urdu News Editor in Chief Tarek Mishkhas. “He led us without his knowing it. He was a noble soul and a team player. We did not want him to leave Urdu News in 2012, but we had to agree because of his poor health. He will remain with us in our memories.”
Shahbaz Ahmed (Senior), the Olympian award-winning hockey player from Pakistan who is currently Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) station manager in Madinah, said the best aspect of Zafar Iqbal’s journalism was his constructive criticism.
“He never derided players; he never ran them down. He made his points very subtly and without hurting any player. In that sense, he was a wonderful man and an exceptionally likable journalist and 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 (JCA) President Mohammed Iqbal Chaudhry said the one quality that endeared Zafar Iqbal to him 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 the guests for expressing their condolences. 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 head Dr. Mohammad Laiqullah, advertising expert Shahid Haider, poet Anwar Ansari and journalists Mahmood Hasan, Khalid Khurshid, Asad Akram and Arshad Raza.
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/653761