Veteran journalist Zafar Agha passes away

Veteran journalist Zafar Agha Saab 70, is no more, according to people who know him.

He passed away at 5.30 am this morning at Fortis, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, wrote Shafiq-ur-Rahman on his timeline.

According to his elder brother Qamar Agha, he was suffering from severe pneumonia and chest infection, he wrote.

His body will be taken to Dargah Shah-e-Mardan, BK Dutt Colony, Jor Bagh, New Delhi, for last rites at 2 pm and he will be buried at Hauz Rani Qabristan, Near Max Hospital Saket, New Delhi, he wrote.

Currently, he was editor-in-chief National Herald.

Agha, who began his career as a journalist with Link Magazine in 1979, is survived by his son Moonis.

In his 45-year career, he also worked with The Patriot, Business and Political Observer, India Today, ETV and Inquilab Daily. His final stint as a journalist was with the National Herald group, first as editor of Urdu daily Qaumi Awaz and then as editor-in-chief of National Herald.

Agha also served as member and then officiating chairperson of The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions till 2017. He studied at Allahabad Yadgar Hussaini Inter-College. He did his masters in English from Allahabad University.

After resigning from IT, he worked for a while with Okhla-headquartered Urdu daily, said a source. The source said it was during this time that he even for a while freelanced with Nation and the World, an English fortnightly which was started by Sayed Hamid.