ISLAMABAD – Ten years have passed since the absence of Zahid Malik sb., the visionary founder of Pakistan Observer, but for those who carry forward the newspaper he built, his presence has never truly faded. On his 10th death anniversary, we remember not only celebrated journalist and respected Islamic scholar, but the man whose vision gave PO its identity and purpose.
Malik sb. breathed his last on September 1, 2016, leaving behind legacy that cannot be measured simply by years or headlines. He built this publication with belief that journalism was more than reporting events, it was a responsibility to inform, educate and contribute to society. A decade later, that belief continues to guide the Observer family.
His intellectual contribution extended far beyond journalism. His landmark work Mazameen-i-Quran-i-Hakeem, a subject-wise compilation of Quranic verses, earned recognition internationally and was translated into English, French and German. His other major work, Mazameen-i-Ahadees-e-Nabwi, reflected his lifelong commitment to presenting Islamic teachings in an accessible and meaningful way.
For Zahid Malik sb., knowledge was not meant to remain confined to scholars or libraries as he believed in bringing it closer to ordinary people. His remarkable ability to distil vast bodies of religious knowledge into clear and concise writings became one of the defining features of his scholarship.
His passing in 2016 left a deep void in Pakistan’s journalistic and intellectual circles. But within Pakistan Observer, his absence has always carried a deeper meaning. Every edition, every newsroom discussion and every effort to uphold the principles of responsible journalism serves as a reminder of the vision with which he founded the newspaper.
Ten years on, the man may no longer walk through the corridors of the institution he created, but his ideas still do. His words remain in his books. His vision remains in the newspaper. And his legacy lives on in the generations of journalists, readers and thinkers who continue to draw inspiration from his life and work.
Zahid Malik may have left this world a decade back, but the vision he planted continues to find its voice in the pages of Pakistan Observer.
