Notables we lost in 2022

With the world gearing up to celebrate the beginning of a new year in the chilling winter with traditional zeal and enthusiasm, it detaches us from the surrounding when we look back at the past to meet our loved ones who now live in our memories.

The year 2022 deprived us of numerous scholars, rich brains, renowned politicians, eminent journalists and other notables.

The outgoing year witnessed the brutal murder of renowned journalist Arshad Sharif as well as the loss of many other stars hailing from different walks of life.

Here are some of the notables who we have lost in 2022 but they would always be remembered in history:

Rasheed Naz — veteran actor

Veteran film and TV star Rasheed Naz passed away on January 17 at the age of 73.

Rasheed’s son Hassan Noman said his father was admitted to a local hospital in Islamabad. He was born in 1948.

Bushra Rehman — novelist, politician

Novelist turned politician Bushra Rehman passed away on February 7 in Lahore after a protracted illness. She was 78.

Born in 1944, she did her master's in journalism at Punjab University. She was elected four times as a member of parliament, thrice as a member of Punjab Assembly and once as a member of the National Assembly.

Besides, she was also a recipient of Sitara-e-Imtiaz for her literary work as she had written 26 novels during her life span. Her death was mourned in political and literary circles including at Alhamra Arts Council. 

Rehman Malik — PPP stalwart

Pakistan Peoples Party senior politician and former interior minister Rehman Malik passed away at the age of 70 on February 23.

He died of COVID-19-related complications at a hospital in Islamabad. He is survived by his widow and two sons.

The PPP senator, who had received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Karachi, served as the interior minister of the country from 2008 to 2013. Born in 1951, Rehman Malik hails from Sialkot.

Dr Mehdi Hasan — veteran journalist

Professor of Mass Communication Dr Mehdi Hasan passed away after a protracted illness on February 23. He was 85.

He is survived by his wife Rakhshanda Hasan, sons, grandchildren, brothers, nieces, nephews, and thousands of students.

Dr Hasan — who was awarded the most prestigious award Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan in 2012 for his services in Journalism — was a Pakistani left-wing journalist, media historian, dean of journalism and mass communication at the Beaconhouse National University and a professor of mass communication at the Punjab University. His teaching career spanned over 50 years.

Masood Akhtar — famous actor

Veteran actor Masood Akhtar passed away in Lahore on March 5. The 82-year-old was battling lung cancer for a couple of months.

Akhtar was born on Sept 5, 1940, in Sahiwal. He played notable roles in various dramas, films and theatre plays. He was also the recipient of “Pride of Performance Award” for his artistic services.

Bilquis Edhi — philanthropist

Bilquis Bano Edhi, renowned humanitarian and philanthropist, who was also the wife of Abdul Sattar Edhi, passed away at the age of 74 after a brief hospitalisation on April 15.

According to an Edhi Foundation spokesperson, Bilquis was ill for a month. She had congestive heart failure and had already undergone a heart bypass twice. Bilquis was born on August 14, 1947.

Talat Aslam — senior journalist

On May 25, senior journalist Talat Aslam passed away. He was 67 years old.

Aslam was the senior editor at The News. He remained associated with several leading newspapers and magazines in his long journalistic career.

Ali Raza Sadpara — veteran mountaineer

Veteran mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara, who had received serious injuries after falling from a mountain, passed away on May 27.

On May 17, mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara had fallen off a mountain during a routine climbing practice session near his village in Gilgit and sustained serious injuries.

According to Ali Raza's family, he was under treatment at a hospital, where he breathed his last.

Aamir Liaquat — televangelist

Television host and Member of National Assembly (MNA) Aamir Liaquat passed away in Karachi on June 9.

Liaquat, 50, was found unconscious at his home in Khudad Colony and shifted to a private hospital in critical condition. His domestic staff broke down his room's door when they did not receive any reply from him.

Later, the doctors said that Liaquat was dead when he was brought to the hospital.

He was born on July 5, 1971, in Karachi, to politician Sheikh Liaquat Hussain and columnist Mahmooda Sultana.

Nayyara Noor — melody queen

Renowned singer Nayyara Noor passed away after a brief illness in Karachi at the age of 71 on August 20.

Nayyara Noor, the melody queen of Pakistan, was one of the top playback singers in the country. With no formal musical background, Noor also did not receive any formal training in music, however, she proved her God-gifted singing talents all over the subcontinent.

She was born on November 3, 1950, in Guwahati, Assam where she spent her early childhood days. She was seven when her family migrated to Pakistan.

In 1973, she was awarded the Nigar Award for Best Playback Singer in the film Gharana. In 1977, her reputation peaked as the songs of the film Aaina touched the hearts of Pakistanis.

Manzoor Junior — hockey legend

The shining star of Pakistan Hockey, the legendary Olympian Manzoor Hussain Jr, passed away due to a heart attack on August 28.

Manzoor was undergoing treatment at a local hospital in Lahore due to a heart attack which he could not survive.

Manzoor captained the national team and won the goal medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

He was also part of the winning national hockey team of 1978 and 1982. He is still recognized by the hockey world as the hero of the 1982 World Cup Final.

Hunaid Lakhani — noted educationist 

On September 8, renowned educationist and politician Hunaid Lakhani passed away at a hospital in Karachi. He was 49.

Lakhani, the founder and chancellor of Iqra University, was suffering from the dengue virus. He was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Karachi but was unable to recover.

Asad Rauf — elite cricket umpire

Former International Cricket Council's (ICC) elite panel umpire from Pakistan Asad Rauf died at the age of 66 after suffering a cardiac arrest in Lahore on September 15.

Rauf had a substantial first-class career as a middle-order batter before he turned to umpiring, appearing for National Bank and Railways, averaging 28.76 from 71 first-class matches, the publication stated.

In his career as an umpire, Rauf officiated 64 Tests, 49 of which as on-field umpire and 15 as TV umpire, 139 ODIs and 28 T20Is.

Arshad Sharif — senior journalist

Senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was shot dead by the Kenyan police in a “mistaken identity” case while he was travelling to Nairobi from the country’s Magadi town on October 23.

In this regard, the Chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Kenya, Anne Makori held a press conference and confirmed that on the evening of October 23, a Pakistani journalist, named Arshad Muhammad Sharif, 50, was shot by the Kenyan police within the limits of Kajiado County.

"There's an alleged police killing of a Pakistani national at Tinga market, Kajiado county, last evening. Our rapid response team has already been dispatched," she said, adding that a probe related to the incident is underway and that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority will carry out a transparent investigation into the killing of Sharif.

Balakh Sher Mazari — former caretaker PM

Ex-caretaker PM Balakh Sher Mazari passed away on November 4. Mazari served the country as the caretaker prime minister after Nawaz Sharif’s government was dismissed by then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1993. However, his tenure ended soon after the Apex Court revoked the presidential order, and reinstated Nawaz Sharif back as the prime minister.

Imran Aslam — giant of journalism

Imran Aslam, Group President of Geo and Jang, passed away at 70 years of age on December 2. The veteran journalist, scriptwriter, thespian, voice-over artist and TV network head had been ill for some time and was undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Aslam was born in 1952 in Madras, now known as Chennai. He studied in London in the 70s. He was part of the Geo launch team. Geo News, Geo Entertainment and Geo Super were launched under his guidance. The visionary journalist was also a founding member of Pakistan's prominent English newspaper The News.

He was chief news editor and senior editor at The News.

Aside from journalism, Aslam wrote more than 60 successful plays that graced the stage and television.

Thumbnail and banner illustration. — Geo.tv/AyeshaNabi