SWAT: People from all walks of life gathered on Wednesday to pay rich tributes to Ghulam Farooq, a senior journalist from Swat, on his first death anniversary.

A condolence reference was held at the Swat Press Club in Mingora, attended by numerous political and social figures, lawyers, traders, representatives of various organisations, and journalists from across the province.

Speaking at the condolence reference, speakers including District Development Advisory Committee Chairman Akhtar Khan Advocate, Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mahboob, District Police Officer Nasir Mehmood, senior journalist Rifat Orakzai, Prof Irfan Ashraf, Abdul Rahim, and others paid glowing tributes to the late journalist’s services.

The speakers said that Ghulam Farooq was a shining star who stood for truth and justice until his last breath. They highlighted his invaluable contributions to the peace and prosperity of Swat and his relentless efforts in addressing the challenges faced by journalists.

They said that the late journalist not only excelled in his profession but also played an active role in social service, standing shoulder to shoulder with the marginalised segments of society. The speakers noted that his career was characterised by strong arguments, solid evidence, and historical references.

Ghulam Farooq was born in Mingora in 1967 and began his journalistic career in 1993. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards in recognition of his exceptional contributions to journalism. On this occasion, a conference hall named after the late journalist was inaugurated at the press club.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2024