Professor of Mass Communication Dr Mehdi Hassan, Sitara-i-Imtiaz receipt, passed away after a protracted illness on Wednesday. He was 85.

Dr Mehdi's funeral prayers were offered in Sukh Chain Gardens at 9:30 PM. Agha Ghulam Kazim Awan led the funeral prayers of the deceased. He was laid to rest in Sukh Chain graveyard.    

A number of relatives, media personalities, people from academia, his close associates and students attended the last rites of Dr Mehdi. And prayers for the departed soul. 

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad Akhtar has expressed his grief and sorrow over the sad demise of former chairman Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, senior most teacher of journalism and retired faculty member of Punjab University Department of Journalism Dr Mehdi Hasan.

In his condolence message, the VC prayed that the departed soul may rest in eternal peace and Almighty Allah may grant courage to the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. He said that Dr Hasan was a powerful voice of human rights in Pakistan. 

Profile

Dr Mehdi Hassan is survived by wife Rakhshanda Hasan, sons, grandchildren and brothers. Prof Dr Mehdi Hassan taught hundreds of thousands of students and inspired many. His teaching career spanned over 50 years.     

He was the country's left-wing journalist, media historian, Dean of Journalism and Mass communication at the Beaconhouse National University and a Professor of Mass Communication at the Punjab University. 

He served as chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

He was one of Pakistan's prominent communication experts with a specialization in political analysis. One of the few media historians of Pakistan, Dr. Mehdi Hasan was a regular commentator and panelist for TV news channels and radio stations. 

Dr Mehdi authored many books on history, journalism, mass communication and political parties.  His book The Political History of Pakistan is a widely used source of reference by journalists and producers.