LAHORE, May 4: Veteran journalist and former chief editor of defunct daily Imroze Hameed Jhelumi, who died here on Thursday, was laid to rest in Miani Sahib Graveyard on Friday. He was 86.

A large number of journalists, friends and relatives attended his funeral prayers at a mosque near his Riwaz Garden residence.

Hameed Jhelumi was admitted to Wapda Hospital after his hipbone fractured a few days ago. He breathed his last in the hospital because of heart failure, says his family.

His real name was Abdul Hameed, but he was given the name of Hameed Jhelumi by the late Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi. For everyone he was Jhelumi Sahib. He hailed from Jhelum.

Quiet but amiable, he was much respected for his integrity, command over Urdu language and deep insight into contemporary national and international affairs.

He was a photographer par excellence. A black and white portrait would be the most prized gift every close friend would desire. Punjab University’s Journalism Department

benefited from his expertise when it introduced the subject of photojournalism in 1974. He would deliver lectures and act as external examiner of the subject taught by Dr Mehdi Hasan.

Jhelumi Sahib began his career in journalism from Maulana Zafar Ali Khan’s Zamindar. He switched over to daily Imroze when it was launched by Mian Iftikharuddin in 1948. He began as a sub-editor, but was later made an assistant editor, writing editorials, and popular column Pasmanzar (background feature) for years. He edited Sunday Magazine of the quality Urdu newspaper, and retired from service as its chief editor.

He worked under three celebrated editors of Imroze -- Chiragh Hasan Hasrat, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi and Zaheer Babar. After his retirement from Imroze, Jhelumi Sahib joined daily Pakistan, but quietly left it after a few years. He has left behind three sons and three daughters.

His qul will be held at Baitul Mukkarram Masjid near his residence after Asr prayers on Saturday (today). — Intikhab Hanif