Former KT News Editor, a veteran Pakistani journalist, passes away

For those who knew Zahid Mukhtar — Khaleej Times' former News Editor who passed away in Lahore on Saturday — his passion for print and the written word was infectious.

His ability to spot the news and understand its repercussions set him apart. He held his own in the newsroom and was firm about staying neutral and above the fray.

He went by the book when it came to protocol and was a livewire in the KT newsroom. Deadlines were sacrosanct and he brooked no delays. He was always the last man to leave to newsroom and the first to wake up to a breaking story.

Zahid's demise came after a long battle with illness, and his passing has sent his former colleagues and friends into a state of shock. He was only 58 and had so much more to give to the world of journalism.

He had been ailing for some time and was hospitalised last month. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Hailing from Lahore, Zahid started his career with the city-based The Nation newspaper in 1989 and also worked in The News. Later, he joined Gulf Today in Sharjah, where he worked for more than a year. Zahid joined Khaleej Times in 1997 and worked for nearly 20 years.

His friends remember Zahid as kind and generous; his dedication was for all to see and he handled long night shifts for many years. He had a brief stint in Gulf News before settling down in Lahore.

Zahid was in Dubai recently and met some of his former colleagues, whom he regaled with his usual wit. He will be sorely missed.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai
• Abu Dhabi