Senior journalist Babar Ayaz passes away after prolonged illness

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

The senior journalist was 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.

Journalist fraternity and people belonging to other walks of life expressed sorrow over the demise.

Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi expressed his heartfelt condolence over the sad demise of 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.

“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,” wrote journalist Shahzeb Jillani on his X handle.

Former senator Afrasiab Khattak called Ayaz a “fearless defender of human rights and a bold intellectual”.