Veteran print and electronic media journalist Zaheer Javed died here on Wednesday after protracted illness at the age of 79. He left behind one son, three daughters, several grand children and hundreds of friend/admirers. Zaheer was the only son of famed journalist, writer, poet and humorist Maulana Chiragh Hassan Hasrat who was the first editor of daily newspaper IMROZE published by Progressive Papers Ltd along with the Pakistan Times and Lailo Nehar immediately after partition in 1947,
It is worth mentioning that it was a unique era in Lahore's rich cultural and intellectual life when giant writers, intellectuals, poets, journalists, and men of literature like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Chiragh Hassan Hasrat, Nawabzada Mazhar Ali Khan, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Abdullah Malik, Hameed Akhtar, I.A. Rahman, Syed Amjid Hussain, Ahmad Bashir, Syed Sibte Hassan and other progressive writers worked under one roof. Zaheer was brought up in this refreshing environment.
As Hasrat died at comparatively young age in mid 50's, young Zaheer started his professional career as a sub editor in the daily IMROZE. Zaheer, a diehard trade unionist resigned from Imroze along with other workers to press for their demands in 1969. He joined PTV as producer and served at Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Rawalpindi-Islamabad centres. Zaheer played an active role in take over of PTV centres of Lahore, Karachi, Quetta. Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Islamabad in February 1978 during Ziaul Haq's martial law. He was arrested and sentenced one year rigorous imprisonment and lashes.
Zaheer came out of jail in 1979. However he remained out of job for ten years, he ran a taxi in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to earn his livelihood. When Benazir Bhutto came to power in 1988, she reinstated Zaheer Javed long with two dozen other dismissed PTV employees with back benefits.
Zaheer's daughter Shazia's worked with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Shaheed as her public relations officer. His two daughters Sidhra and Munnazza also worked as newscasters in National News Bureau Islamabad. Shazia and Monnazza have settled in USA. Zaheer has been living a retired life since 1999.
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