Senior journalist Babar Ayaz passes away

Senior journalist and author Babar Ayaz passed away after a prolonged illness, his family confirmed on Tuesday.

The senior journalist had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for a long time. He remained associated with various publications in his 41-year professional career.

Ayaz also authored several books including 'What's Wrong with Pakistan' based on his journalistic observations. The journalist fraternity and people belonging to other walks of life expressed sorrow over his demise.

Caretaker federal information minister Murtaza Solangi expressed his condolence over Ayaz’s death, remembering him as a prominent journalist, author, thinker, intellectual, peacenik, human rights activist and democrat.

“May God bless his soul. Goodbye comrade!” the minister wrote on his X handle. Journalist Shahzeb Jillani tweeted: “Sad news: senior journalist, author, civil rights activist & PR practitioner, Babar Ayaz is no more. His work spread over 4+ decades. As a rookie tv reporter, I remember working with him on Pakistan Business Update, the country's first privately-produced weekly feature for PTV.” Former senator Afrasiab Khattak called Ayaz a “fearless defender of human rights and a bold intellectual”.