Murtaza Razvi

Murtaza Razvi (17 December 1964 – 19 April 2012) was a senior Pakistani journalist with Dawn newspaper, Karachi, Pakistan.^[1][2]

Murtaza Razvi
Born	17 December 1964 Lahore, Pakistan
Died	19 April 2012 (aged 47) Karachi, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Occupation	Journalist
Known for	Candid and fearless journalism
Notable credit	Villanova University alumni

Besides Urdu language and English, he knew German, French, Hindi and Persian languages.^[3]

Biography

Murtaza Razvi held master's degrees in Ancient Indian and Islamic History (University of the Punjab, Lahore) and Political Science & International Relations (Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA). In 2009, Murtaza supervised over the huge task of merging four Dawn newspaper magazines – Sunday Magazine, The Review, Images and Gallery – into what Images Magazine is even in 2025.^[3]

Murtaza Razvi served as the Resident Editor of Dawn, Lahore (2005–2007) and had worked there for over 10 years. He had also worked as a columnist and political analyst of the Indian Express newspaper. Murtaza had worked in the field of journalism for over two decades.^[3][2]

Death

He was found murdered in Karachi on 19 April 2012. The police also found a rope which apparently was used for strangulation. There were torture marks on his body, and his hands were tied.^[2][4][5]

One of the editors of Dawn newspaper, Badar Alam, who was his colleague as well, reportedly said after his murder: "He knew everything about Urdu and Persian literature and poetry. He was a very cultured man...He was like a brother and a mentor to me. He was always willing to own up to his mistakes and improve".^[1]

Faysal Quraishi, a noted Pakistani television and media personality, who was with him in Lahore when Murtaza was resident editor there, said, "He was both understanding and generously accomodating when it came to handling tricky situations. We had an ideal, cordial work relationship and I will miss him".^[3]

Veteran newspaper journalist Zaffar Abbas reportedly said, "Murtaza was a generous friend and a highly talented journalist. In his death, the journalist fraternity has lost a fearless writer".^[3]

Among his survivors, in 2012, were his wife Shahrezad Samiuddin, three minor daughters: Maya, Priya and Dina.^[3]

Works

• Musharraf: the years in power (political biography of the former Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf; New Delhi, 2009, HarperCollins)^[1][6][3]
• Ordinary People (interviews with ordinary citizens of Pakistan about history, society, culture, etc.; Lahore, 1995, Progressive Publishers)

During his last days, he was working on the books Pittho's World & Other Stories (fiction, HarperCollins) and Pakistan Uncut (non-fiction, HarperCollins).