KARACHI: Human rights activist and former editor of Dawn Saleem Asmi passed away in Karachi on Friday night. He had been suffering from multiple disorders for quite some time. He was 86. He leaves behind wife Rehana Asmi, daughter Laila Omar, sons Dr Askar Ejaz and Yasir Baseer and many grandchildren. His death has been widely condoled.

In his long journalistic career spanning nearly six decades, Asmi also worked for several other publications, including Pakistan Times, The Muslim and Dubai-based Khaleej Times. Asmi joined the Times of Karachi as reporter-cum-sub-editor after completing his education.

A former President of Karachi Press Club, Asmi was a strong supporter of human rights activism in the country. He had represented Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in a senior position. In his journalistic career, Asmi faced imprisonment for the ideals that he upheld till his death.

Despite old age, Asmi's mind was very fertile. He was very active on social media after his retirement. He was a highly well-versed scholar in newspapering. He was known for bringing about much-needed changes in Dawn's content and layout or look under the guidance of the then Editor Ahmad Ali Khan in early 1990s. He was also an established scholar insofar as the fields of painting and classical music are concerned.

Born into an educated family of Delhi in pre-Partition India, Asmi received his early education in Farash Khana neighbourhood of India's capital where his father had been practicing law.

After Partition, Asmi received further education in Hyderabad and Karachi. In Karachi, Islamia College of Arts and Commerce was the place where Prof Muhammad Hasan Askari played a highly important role in shaping up Asmi's world view on sound footings. This was perhaps because of his mentor Asmi successfully acquired the ability to objectively appreciate western literary, philosophical and metaphysical works. He will be buried in PECHS (Tariq Road) graveyard after Asr on Monday (tomorrow).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020