Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) mourns the loss of senior journalist Anila Shaeen. On February 26, Anila Shaheen, a senior journalist remembered for her dedication to journalism and advocacy for journalists’ rights, died in Peshawar after a brief illness. She was the first woman to serve as the general secretary of the Khyber Union of Journalists and the first vice president of the Peshawar Press Club.

Her husband, Irfanullah, reported that Shaheen suffered a brain hemorrhage during Sehri four days before her death. She underwent two surgeries but remained in a coma until her passing.

Colleagues and peers remembered Shaheen as a fearless and principled journalist. Throughout her career, she made significant contributions to the field and strongly advocated for press freedom and resolving issues facing working journalists. Shaheen’s work extended beyond the local sphere, influencing journalism across Pakistan, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

Her funeral was held in her ancestral village of Chamkani, Azizabad, where many mourners, including members of the media community, gathered to pay their respects.

Ziaul Haq, bureau chief of ARY News in Peshawar, highlighted Shaheen’s courage, particularly noting her coverage of the Swat military operation.

The Peshawar Press Club and the Khyber Union of Journalists expressed profound grief over Shaheen’s death. Both organizations acknowledged her dynamic presence and unwavering commitment to journalism.

Further tributes came from governmental figures, including the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, and the Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Syed Fakhar Jehan. Both expressed deep sorrow over her passing and commended her exceptional service to journalism in the region. Governor Kundi remarked on Shaheen’s role as an inspirational figure for young women in journalism.