Renowned journalist and columnist Syed Abbas Athar passed away after protracted illness in the wee hours of Monday.
Athar was suffering from cancer for a long time and had been hospitalised in Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore for the treatment.
He was a well known columnist and used to write his columns under title of ‘Kankarian’ in leading newspapers of the country.
The veteran journalist in 1970 through his headline in a newspaper “Idhar hum udhar tum” got popularity and was also awarded pride of performance for his services for journalism.
Syed Athar Abbas was also a respected critic and current affairs analyst on a private TV channel and was liked by a large number of viewers.
He has left behind two wives, three daughters and two sons.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Mir Hazar Jan Khoso, leaders of various political parties, journalist organizations all over the country expressed heartfelt grief over the death of Athar Abbas. They termed his death an irreparable loss for media and prayed for the departed soul.