Qutubuddin Aziz Passes away
A press release received by Pakistan Link states: It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing away of our beloved father, Mr Qutubuddin Aziz. He was a patriotic Pakistani, who devoted his entire life to the service of his country. Having witnessed the birth of Pakistan and stood side by side with Quaid-i-Azam, Aziz Sahib served Pakistan dedicatedly as a leader, human rights activist, journalist, writer, bureaucrat, and diplomat and as the finest ambassador of Pakistan.
Grieving Family: Samina and Iqbal Qasim, Fariha Khan Zoff Khan, Anila Ali Karim Ali, Farhan Aziz Sumara Aziz, Mahmoodul Aziz, Khalidul Aziz, Zuleikha Zar, Malka Iftikhar,
Zaid and Asad Aziz, Rashid Zar. For details: Anila2008@gmail.com 333-210-2558
His funeral was held on Monday, December 7th, 2015 in Karachi.
According to a Dawn report veteran journalist and diplomat Qutbuddin Aziz died of respiratory complications at a hospital here on Saturday night. He was 86.
He was born in 1929 in Lucknow where his maternal grandfather, Nawab Abdullah Khan, owned and edited Urdu daily Hamdam. He was educated in New Delhi, Simla and Hyderabad Deccan.
He was vice president of the St. George’s Grammar School Students Society and Nizam College Students’ Union, Hyderabad. He participated in an international youth conference in London in 1948. He did his masters in Madras, studied international relations at the London School of Economics and was trained in journalism at the Fleet Street.
Qutbuddin Aziz was managing editor of United Press of Pakistan, a news service which he and his father founded in late 1949.
During his journalistic career, he interviewed world famous personalities, including US President Harry S. Truman, Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, Japanese Prem-iers Yoshida and Hatoyama, President Garcia of the Philippines and Soviet Premier Bulganin.
Mr Aziz worked on a government assignment with the Pakistan embassy in the US in 1971 and was awarded Tamgha-i-Pakistan the same year. He testified before the 1971 War Inquiry Commission on Feb 9, 1972 and later wrote a book on the plight of the ‘pro-Pakistan’ citizens of East Pakistan during the conflict. Books written by him included a biography of the Quaid-i-Azam.
Link ’s Editor Akhtar Faruqui adds: We were greatly saddened by the news of Aziz Sahib's death. He was a quintessential gentleman, embodying the best of traits that were the hallmark of the shurofa (nobility) of the subcontinent. His achievements were many, but it was his personal warmth, affection and kindness that I would gratefully remember and always cherish.
During one of his visits to the US he happened to come to Pakistan Link's office. That memorable evening, Mansuri Sahib hosted a dinner in his honor at an Irvine restaurant. We were impressed by his interest in the paper. The restaurant owner too was visibly appreciative: Aziz Sahib’s mannerism, deportment, demeanor, and attire were impeccable. He was duly complimented as being one who reminded her of the Quaid. A richly deserved tribute. A message he left on my phone a few years back is still part of the recorded messages. Some consolation that I can hear his inspirational words of encouragement.
Words are not enough to express the family’s loss but they should know that we in Pakistan Link, and many more like us, share their grief and pray for him.
May his soul rest in peace. (Ameen)
