Former Arab News staffer dies in India

Liaquat Husain

JEDDAH: A former senior editor at Arab News, Syed Liyaquat Husain, died in the north Indian city of Lucknow on Friday. He was in his late 60s.
Hailing from Delhi, Husain was vacationing in Lakhimpur, about 200 km from Lucknow, when he suffered a massive paralytic attack 15 days ago. He was taken to Lucknow for better treatment, but then suffered a fatal heart attack on Friday.
He is survived by his wife and three sons, Mujahid, Abid and Khurram, and two daughters, Atiya and Swaleha. Speaking to Arab News from Lucknow, a distraught Atiya said her father was feeling weak but improving after the first attack. "He was taken to Lari Cardiology Center where he breathed his last," she said.
Son of a well-known Islamic scholar, Syed Hamid Husain, he joined Arab News in 1983 in a senior position. He resigned in 1991 and left for Delhi. He reported from India on cataclysmic events of the time, such as the demolition of the historic Babri Masjid and the ferocious communal riots that broke out afterwards.
He rejoined Arab News in 1993 and contributed immensely to the newspaper's success for the next 17 years. He left in 2010 for Delhi and continued to write interesting and well-informed columns in both English and Urdu for many Indian newspapers.
He was leading a contented life with his wife and grandchildren, dividing his time between Delhi and Lakhimpur, his wife's hometown. He remained active until the very end and was prompt in updating his status on Facebook.
During his stay in Jeddah, his house in Al-Faisaliya district was a venue for many literary events. He was a well-read person and had a passion for collecting paper clippings of important news events. He was the chief source of information on all issues concerning the Muslim world.
He was one of six sons of his father, who was once the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami. All his brothers, Syed Khalid, Syed Ajmal, Syed Wajahat, Syed Mubbashir and Syed Zakir, are well known. Syed Khalid is a senior journalist at The Straits Times in Singapore and Syed Ajmal is a famous sports journalist based in Delhi.
Arab News and all staff members join the Husain family in condoling his death. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this hour of grief.