Khaled Ahmed (writer)

For other people named Khaled Ahmed, see Khaled Ahmed (disambiguation).

Khaled Ahmed (12 February, 1943 – 17 November 2024) was a Pakistani journalist and writer. He received the Presidential Pride of Performance Medal in 2013.[1][2] Khaled was a maternal uncle of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.[3]

Khaled Ahmed - Pakistani writer, scholar, intellectual

Early life and education

Ahmed was born in Jalandhar, Punjab on 12 February, 1943. After the Partition of India, he moved to Lahore, settling in Zaman Park. He graduated from the Government College Lahore in 1965, and later the University of the Punjab, while also earning diplomas in German and Russian language (Moscow University, 1970).[1][4][5]

Career

Before starting his career as a diplomat in Pakistan's Foreign Service in 1969, Khaled Ahmed had a brief stint with Sohail Ifthikar's Nigarishat Publishers, where he helped translate Niccolao Manucci's Storia Do Mogor (Mogul India; 1653-1708) to Urdu.[6][7]

After leaving the Foreign Services, he wrote several books and wrote for The Pakistan Times, The Nation, The Frontier Post, Daily Times, The Friday Times, Newsweek (Pakistan), and most recently Pakistan Standard, where he was the Consulting Editor.[8]

From 1991 to 1993, he was part of the Founding team of the India-Pakistan Neemrana Dialogue, Track Two Diplomacy.[9] Between 2010 and 2013, he served as the Director of South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).[10]

Death

Ahmed died from a cardiac arrest in Lahore, on 17 November 2024, at the age of 81.[1]

Writings

Ahmed authored 20 books,[6] mainly on socio-political issues of Pakistan.[11]

  • Pakistan: Behind the Ideological Mask, 2011, published by Vanguard Books Lahore
  • Sectarian War : Pakistan's Sunni-Shia Violence and Its Links to the Middle East, 2011 published by Oxford University Press, Pakistan, written while at Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington D.C
  • Sleepwalking to Surrender: Dealing with Terrorism in Pakistan, 2016 published by Penguin Books, UK
  • Pakistan's Terror Conundrum, 2020, Penguin Books

Awards

  • Best Book of the Year Award, Academy of Letters Islamabad (2012)
  • Presidential Pride of Performance Medal, (2013)[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Khaled Ahmed, renowned journalist, passes away". The Express Tribune. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  2. ^ "'One Of Pakistan's Best Minds': Veteran Journalist, Intellectual Khaled Ahmed Passes Away". The Friday Times. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  3. ^ Fasih Ahmed (29 November 2024). "The Courage to Doubt: Khaled Ahmed (1943-2024)". Dawn.
  4. ^ "Noted writer, intellectual Khaled Ahmed passes away". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Khaled Ahmed". Daily Times. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b Aijazuddin, F. S. (21 November 2024). "Romancing the word". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Requiescat in pace, Dearest K". The Friday Times. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  8. ^ "In Memoriam: Khaled Ahmed". Pakistan Standard. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Khaled Ahmed". www.libertybooks.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Advisory board". Pak Institute For Peace Studies Pvt Ltd. (PIPS). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Khaled Ahmed". Penguin Random House India. Retrieved 22 November 2024.