KARACHI: The Council of the Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has expressed its deep grief and sorrow over the death of the council’s elected president and veteran journalist Arif Nizami terming his death a great loss for the country.

In a joint statement of condolence to the bereaved family of Nizami, CPNE’s Senior Vice President Ali Kazim, Acting Secretary General Amir Mehmood, vice presidents Sardar Khan Niazi, Ikram Sehgal, Irshad Ahmed Arif, Anwar Sajidi, Dr Hafiz Sana Ullah Khan, Joint Secretary of the CPNE, Ghulam Nabi Chandyo, Tahir Farooq, Arif Baloch, Tanveer Shaukat, Shakil Ahmed Turabi, Finance Secretary Syed Hamid Hussain Abidi, Information Secretary Abdul Rehman Mangrio and the members of the council while expressing their heartfelt grief over the death of the renowned analyst, journalist, editor and president of the council prayed to Almighty Allah for eternal peace of the departed soul and to grant patience and forbearance to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.

In their message of condolence, the office-bearers and members of the CPNE while paying glowing tributes to the valuable and fearless services of Arif Nizami in journalism held he commanded respect for his candid, frank and blunt comments and analyses. He always stood for the freedom of press and freedom of expression, said the CPNE in its statement.

Arif Nizam literally waged a war against curbs on freedom of press and stood against various governments’ dictatorial policies of suppressing the voice of media. In the statement, the CPNE further said the services of Arif Nizami in journalism could never be disregarded and in his death the council todays has lost a brave, fearless and great leader. Arif Nizami’s services will always be remembered in the journalistic history of Pakistan, the statement further said.