Pakistani-Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah passes away: Tarek Fatah, a Pakistani-Canadian journalist known as a “Midnight’s Child” because he was born shortly after Pakistan’s independence in 1949, died of cancer at the age of 73. Fatah was recognized for his critiques of Islamic extremism and the Pakistani establishment, as well as his support for queer rights. After his parents migrated from Bombay to Karachi, he was born and later attended the University of Karachi where he studied biochemistry and became a leftist activist before eventually transitioning into journalism. Fatah’s daughter confirmed his death on social media.
April 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Career of Tarek Fatah
- Tarek Fatah began his career in journalism as a reporter for the Karachi Sun in 1970, and later worked as an investigative reporter for Pakistan Television. The Zia-ul Haq administration charged him with sedition in 1977, prompting him to flee to Saudi Arabia and eventually reside in Canada in 1987. He started working as a broadcaster for Toronto radio station CFRB Newstalk 1010, and eventually became a columnist for Toronto Sun after working in several other media organizations across Canada.
- Fatah has been associated with various political groups over the years, including the Liberal Party of Canada and Ontario New Democratic Party.
- He won awards from organizations such as the Donner Prize, Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Book Award, and has been a frequent commentator in Canadian, Indian, and international media.
Books he authored:
Fatah authored two books, “Chasing a Mirage,” which criticized modern Islam, and “The Jew is not my enemy,” which explored the history of the relationship between the Muslim and Jewish communities.