Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other politicians paid glowing tributes to journalist Talat Aslam who passed away at the age of 67 earlier today.
PM Shehbaz’s focal person Abubakr Umar shared a tweet with the PM’s statement on the journalist’s demise.
وزیر اعظم شہباز شریف کا سینئر صحافی طلعت اسلم کی وفات پر گہرے رنج کا اظہار
وزیر اعظم کی جانب سے مرحوم طلعت اسلم کی آزادی صحافت, اقلیتوں اور حقوق نسواں کی عوامی آگاہی کے لیے خدمات کو خراج تحسین۔ اور سوگوار خاندان سے ہمدردی کا اظہار
— Abubakar Umer (@abubakarumer) May 25, 2022
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed grief over Aslam’s passing.
Chairman PPP @BBhuttoZardari expresses grief and sorrow over demise of senior journalist Talat Aslamhttps://t.co/xZdPTWeStN
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) May 25, 2022
Aslam was a reporter and a political commentator too.
Prior to working for The News, he was affiliated with The Herald, a leading monthly magazine that ceased publication some years ago.
Talat Aslam was a noted advocate for democratic rights, tolerance in Pakistan. His Twitter account had a sizeable following where he frequently argued for human rights and civil liberties.
The sudden death of Talat Aslam, lovingly known as ‘Tito’ by his friends, also saddened social media users who knew him through Twitter — where he was quite active.
Life is but a fleeting moment it seems. I knew @titojourno through @TheNewsonSunday and Twitter only but it always get like I knew him personally. Such sad news to wake up to. May his soul rest in peace.
— Benazir Jatoi #FreePalestine (@BenazirJatoi) May 25, 2022
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also noted that his “wit and warmth” how he mentored “scores of young journalists”.
HRCP is deeply saddened to hear that senior journalist Talat Aslam @titojourno has passed away. He will be remembered for his wit and warmth, and for mentoring scores of young journalists. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and @thenews_intl colleagues.
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 25, 2022
Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, who was also Aslam’s colleague at The Herald expressed her grief and remembered his warm personality and also his stature as a fine journalist. In her tweet she said that Aslam was “not just an old-school journalist, with the highest integrity, he was a seasoned English-language editor,” adding how their journey mingled at monthly Herald.
Talat Aslam was not just an old-school journalist, with the highest integrity, he was a seasoned English-language editor. Our journey mingled at the Herald,where he was anchor even tho I was his boss.But he made us all his family,right to the end,wherever we were in life. https://t.co/ve1iXAxthK
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) May 25, 2022
Many remembered him as a generous editor always willing to mentor young people.
Very sad to hear this.
Between our pun tweets in Pakistan twitters early years,
to the support he gave me whenever I wanted to pitch an article,
to our chats about his health.
He was so generous with his time.
Rest in peace @titojourno https://t.co/3RsJEz5UWZ— 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒔 ( تخلّص ) (@takhalus) May 25, 2022
Reporter Zia ur Rehman also expressed his sorrow. Aslam was his mentor, among many others.
Our mentor, editor, friend @titojourno sb passed away early this morning. Life is so unbelievable. Yesterday afternoon @zburki and I met him and gossiped a lot. He was gem of a person, always with a smiling face. RIP Talat sb. pic.twitter.com/4dxJAXWmZO
— Zia Ur Rehman (@zalmayzia) May 25, 2022
Editor of this publication also took to twitter to offer his condolences and added how Pakistan had lost an “outstanding editor.”
Hearbroken and shocked to read this terrible news. Rest in peace @titojourno —Pakistan has lost an outstanding editor, a journalist with integrity and wonderful human being. Condolences for his family and friends. Incredible loss. 💔 💔 https://t.co/OPUM9oVriG
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) May 25, 2022
Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz also extended his heartfelt condolences. In a statement issued by the CM’s office, Hamza Shahbaz said, “Talat Aslam’s death is an irreparable loss to journalism and the void created by his sad demise can never be filled.”
