LAHORE: Veteran Pakistani journalist, intellectual and chief editor of Urdu Digest, Altaf Hassan Qureshi, passed away Saturday. He was 94
Family sources said the funeral prayers for the late journalist will be offered on Sunday, May 17, after Zuhr at Jamia Ashrafia, Lahore.
According to family members, Qureshi passed away at his residence in Johar Town.
He was regarded as one of Pakistan’s most senior editors, columnists and political analysts. He authored several books during his career spanning decades.
He gained nationwide recognition through his widely read column “Hum Kahan Khary Hain”, which focused on political, ideological and national affairs.
He was born on March 3, 1932, in Hisar, India. Qureshi witnessed and documented several defining moments in Pakistan’s history, including military rule, political crises, the fall of Dhaka, the Afghan war, ideological conflicts and democratic transitions.
His writings are still considered an important reference for understanding Pakistan’s political and intellectual history.
Qureshi’s elder brother, Dr. Ejaz Hassan Qureshi, who founded Urdu Digest, passed away in 2020.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Federal interior minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep sorrow over the death of Altaf Hassan Qureshi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prayed for the forgiveness of the departed soul and extended condolences to the bereaved family. The premier said that the death of Qureshi had created a void in the field of journalism that might never be filled. He added that Qureshi’s invaluable contributions to journalism would always be remembered.
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also expressed grief and sympathy with the family of the late journalist. She paid tribute to Altaf Hassan Qureshi’s distinguished services to journalism, describing them as unforgettable.
Maryam Nawaz said that Altaf Hassan Qureshi was a renowned writer, prose stylist and columnist whose absence would be felt for a long time in literary and journalistic circles.
Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon expressed deep sorrow over Qureshi’s death and described him as a pioneer of ideological journalism.
“Qureshi’s contributions to journalism, literature, and intellectual awareness will always be remembered,” Memon said in a statement.
He termed the veteran journalist’s death an irreparable loss for Pakistan’s journalistic and intellectual circles and extended condolences to the bereaved family.
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) expressed deep grief over his death and paid tribute to his services in journalism and intellectual discourse.
APNS President Sarmad Ali and Secretary General Muhammad Athar Qazi described Altaf Hassan Qureshi as one of the most respected and influential figures in Urdu journalism.
The APNS noted that through Urdu Digest, Qureshi played a historic role in promoting serious journalism, intellectual debate, and literary values across the country.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments