Zubair Qureshi
Pakistan Observer’s former editor and a veteran journalist Clarence Rufin passed away Tuesday evening leaving his family and friends in deep shock and utter grief.
He died due to cardiac arrest. He was 73. Clarence Rufin (1951-2024) had spent decades working in the print and electronic media including Pakistan Observer, Dawn (Newspaper), Dawn TV, The News International, Dateline Islamabad, INP and several others.
Clarence Rufin was perhaps the most sought-after journalist as editors and owners of various newspapers and TV channels always looked towards him for the launch of some new newspaper, magazine, TV channel or some other project.
They considered him an asset for their media houses as he meticulously went through the content, layout, selected a team of dedicated workers (right man/woman in the right place), be it the print or the electronic media.
He also made documentaries and highlighted social and cultural issues in a bold and candid way. For his work he won international appreciation, awards, shields and certificates, etc.
According to his longtime friend, Kamran Rehmat who himself is one of the renowned journalists of Pakistan, Clarence passed away at a time when he was enjoying perhaps the best period of his difficult life and was set to fly to the US apparently to meet his son.
In Pakistan Observer, Clarence Rufin as head of the news team changed the entire layout of the newspaper and improved the quality of the content by fine-tuning the news stories, articles and editorials. Founder Editor-in-Chief Zahid Malik (late) acknowledged Clarence Rufin’s journalistic acumen on many occasions publicly and also in the staff’s weekly meetings.
Rufin served in Pakistan Observer until the death of Zahid Malik in 2016, then, he joined a university to contribute to the education sector. CEO & Chairman of Pakistan Observer Mr Faisal Zahid Malik, President MrGauharZahid Malik, staff and team of Pakistan Observer have expressed their profound grief over the sad demise of their former colleague and expressed condolences with his family.
Currently, he was working on a project i.e. launch of a new English newspaper by the Independent News of Pakistan (INP). According to senior journalist JavedAkhtar, Clarence Rufin had come to the office even a day before his death. This showed his passion and dedication to his work.
His funeral service was held on Wednesday at the Christ Church Janjua Road Rawalpindi Cantt and was attended by members of his family, former and current colleagues and friends.
