Rahimullah Yusufzai
{{Short description|Pakistani journalist (1954–2021)}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
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| name = Rahimullah Yusufzai
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| native_name = رحیم اللہ یوسُفزئی
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|09|10}}
| birth_place = Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|09|09|1954|09|10}}
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| occupation = journalist
| language = Pashto, Urdu, English
| nationality = Pakistani
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| alma_mater = D. J. Sindh Government Science College
University of Karachi
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| notable_works = interviewed Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar
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| awards = Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) by the President of Pakistan (2005)
Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) by the President of Pakistan (2010)
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Rahimullah Yusufzai (رحیم اللہ یوسُفزئی) (10 September 1954 – 9 September 2021) was a Pakistani journalist, political and security analyst, best known for having interviewed Osama bin Laden, and Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
Early life and education
Yusufzai was born on 10 September 1954, in Pakistan in Shamozai village of Mardan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He received his early education at his village primary school and then in public schools in Peshawar and Jhelum. Rahimullah also studied at the D.J. Sindh College and the University of Karachi.
Career
Yusufzai was among the first journalists to report on the Taliban and visited Kandahar, Afghanistan in 1995. He was one of the few bona fide experts on Afghanistan, having reported on the country since the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union. In 2016, he also frequently appeared on Geo News TV channel as a news analyst.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26072034 Profile of Rahimullah Yusufzai on BBC News website] Published 6 February 2014, Retrieved 26 November 2021 He was the editor of the Jang Group's The News International at the Peshawar Bureau and was an op-ed writer for the monthly Newsline. Rahimullah is especially noted for holding the last interview with Osama bin Laden.{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/behind-the-news-the-truth-can-be-deadly-20100319-qm3u.html |location=Melbourne, Australia |newspaper=The Age |title=Behind the news, the truth can be deadly | date=20 March 2010|author=Carolyn Jones|access-date=26 November 2021}} He also served as a correspondent in Pakistan for Time magazine. Rahimullah was also a correspondent of BBC's Pashto and Urdu services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.{{cite news|last=Fisk|first=Robert|title=Rahimullah Yusufzai: 'The Taliban respect me. I was the first journalist to visit them'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/rahimullah-yusufzai-the-taliban-respect-me-i-was-the-first-journalist-to-visit-them-1925423.html|access-date=26 November 2021|newspaper=The Independent newspaper|location=London|date=23 March 2010}}
Awards and recognition
Yusufzai was considered an authority on Afghan affairs and on the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. Acknowledging his achievements in journalism, the government of Pakistan first awarded him the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) in 2005. Then he received Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award (Star of Excellence) from the President of Pakistan for his achievements in the field of journalism on 23 March 2010.[https://www.dawn.com/news/943236/list-of-civil-award-winners Rahimullah Yusufzai's Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award info listed on Dawn (newspaper)] Published 16 August 2009, Retrieved 26 November 2021
Death
Yusufzai died from cancer on 9 September 2021 after battling his deadly cancer for 15 long months. Among his survivors are four sons and two daughters.{{cite news |title=Renowned journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai passes away |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2319398/renowned-journalist-rahimullah-yousafzai-passes-away |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=The Express Tribune |date=9 September 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Senior Pakistani journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai passes away after prolonged illness |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/world/senior-pakistani-journalist-rahimullah-yusufzai-dies-7499663/ |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=10 September 2021 |language=en}} His funeral prayer was offered in his hometown Inzargi, Katlang, Mardan District and laid to rest on 10 September 2021. Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Federal Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and others offered condolences upon his death.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/890463-veteran-journalist-rahimullah-yusufzai-passes-away|title=Veteran journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai passes away|newspaper=The News International (newspaper)|author=Mumtaz Alvi and Yousaf Ali|date=10 September 2021|access-date=26 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://urdu.geo.tv/latest/263539|title=وزیراعظم عمران خان اور آرمی چیف کا رحیم اللہ یوسفزئی کے انتقال پر اظہار افسوس|website=urdu.geo.tv website}}
References
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External links
- [https://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/sharif-tells-committee-to-initiate-talks-with-taliban_908131.html Sharif tells committee to initiate talks with Taliban] Zee News India website
- [http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/apr/03/osama-bin-laden-is-alive-says-pak-journalist.htm Osama bin Laden is alive, says Pak journalist] Rediff.com website, Published 3 April 2010
- [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/sep/26/afghanistan.terrorism3 Face to face with Osama] The Guardian (newspaper), Published 25 September 2001
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Category:Pakistani male journalists
Category:People from Mardan District
Category:Recipients of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz
Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Category:University of Karachi alumni
Category:Pakistani television journalists
Category:Pakistani war correspondents