By Binoo Joshi
JK News Today
Jammu, September 10:
My heartfelt tributes to Rahimullah Sahib (as Rahimullah Yusufzai was popularly addressed) on his successfully completing the journey of life. A great fighter in him manifested in the fact on how bravely he fought cancer in the last years of his life.
He was not only my colleague in BBC but so well-donned the value of being “soft and firm”, which is my guiding principle of life. Rahimullah Sahib was so soft in talking and speaking as he was firm in his commitments.
I vividly remember meeting Rahimullah Sahib at one of the BBC conferences at India International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. It was practice to meet each other informally before the formal start of the conference. He came to me in his unassuming style and gave his introduction, “Main Rahimullah Yusufzai hoon, Peshawar se, aur app ?” (I am Rahimullah Yusufzai from Peshawar, and you).
I gave my introduction to which he smilingly responded “Oh Binooji aap se mil kar bahut khushi huyee.” This was the first meeting . His smile, his softness, his commitment to profession and all in the most humble and modest way left an indelible impression of his personality on mind.
He was one of the most respected journalists especially in BBC Urdu and Pashto Service. Yusufzai shot to fame with his interview of Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden. He is also among the few within the journalist fraternity to have reported on the Taliban. He went to Kandahar in 1995 on an assignment in this regard.
He was Resident Editor, The News International, Peshawar, and was a columnist for the Daily Jang.
His works were also published in Time magazine.
In addition, he served as a correspondent for BBC Urdu and BBC Pashto.
He was considered an expert on Afghan affairs and North West Pakistan.
The accomplished journalist was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2004 in recognition of his services in the field of journalism.
Thereafter, in 2009, he was also awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
Rahimullah Sahib passed away just a day before his 67th birthday. His funeral was held at native village Inzargai, on Friday 10 Sep (his birth date).
Rest in peace Rahimullah Yusufzai. You will always be remembered fondly
