Mahmood Riazuddin

Pix: 1) Jahanara Saeed; 2) Anita Ghulam Ali; 3) Shaista Zaid; 4) Riaz Ahmed Khan; 5) Aslam Azhar; 6) Rizwan Wasti

Now I turn to voices i.e. reading of news bulletins. A newscaster who takes his job quite seriously becomes a household name. The art of news reading requires intensive training, coupled with determination, commitment and a sharp mind. He should know where he is to stop for a command and where he is to emphasize on words. The newscaster should have good voice, correct pronunciation, and superb command over the language. Besides, any foreign name or phrase is to be pronounced correctly.

Radio Pakistan has produced several legendary newscasters, including Jahanara Saeed [first woman English newsreader of Radio Pakistan], Anita Ghulam Ali [Sitara-e-Imtiaz who later became Sindh minister for education], Eric Warner, Edward Carrapiett, Anees Ghulam Ali, Khadija Naqvi, Aslam Azhar [Tamgha-e-Pakistan – He was also the first managing director of PTV], Rizwan Wasti [youngest newscaster of the subcontinent at the age of 16 years], Shaista Zaid, Riaz Ahmed Khan and Tarannum Salman in English; and Shakeel Ahmed [Dada], Anwar Behzad, Shamim Ijaz, Warasat Mirza, Surriya Shahab, Khalid Hameed, Hameed Akhtar, Arjumand Shaheen [Sitara-e-Imtiaz], Mahpara Safdar, Taskeen Zafar, and Ishrat Fatima [now Ishrat Saqib] in Urdu.

The services of these legends have been recognized even by heads of state and government from time to time. I remember that on viewing a video documentary written by me on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of PBC in 1997, the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had paid glowing tributes to great Shakeel Ahmed, and had desired to add more information about him.

Anyhow, prominent English newscasters whom I had met till 1979 were Shaista Zaid, Edward Carrapiett and Riaz Ahmed Khan. Carrapiett had soon said goodbye to Radio Pakistan, while Shaista Zaid retired, and Riaz Ahmed Khan expired.

As for Shaista Zaid, she was known for her fantastic voice and superb command over the English language. She had the longest career in news reading spanning over 43 years.

Resplendent in Shalwar-Kameez with a dupatta gracefully covering her head, she would appear in GNR, take her seat and start silently studying the news bulletin. She would never look around her and talk to those around her. She would herself correct spelling/grammar mistakes, and would consult the editor if there was any confusion or factual mistake. She would never compromise on quality of language and would ask to redraft stories with poor language.

Shaista Zaid had always been one of the best newscasters throughout her career. Like her name Shaista meaning 'decent', she portrayed so much decency just with that accent. She had a sort of British accent (contrary to newcomers who have a mixture of British and American going on). Shaista's English was professional and sounded really good.

Besides news reading, Shaista Zaid remained the voice of the English speaking clock over the years. She can still be heard on PTCL announcing: "Your telephone subscription does not support calling this number. Please dial one-seven for more assistance."

Some members of staff including seniors called Shaista Zaid as 'maghroor aurat' [arrogant lady] because once she entered the newsroom, she would fully concentrate on the pages of news bulletin and would never unnecessarily speak to anyone. However, she had encouraged me when I was going to appear in intermediate examination. I learnt a lot from her. My last a few seconds discussion with her was, which is correct 'tent village' or 'tented village'.

Anyhow, Shaista Zaid had inspired me a lot. She had the truest style of news reading. Indeed, she was a graceful newscaster. I will never forget her. Similarly, the audience will also always miss her. 

As regards, Riaz Ahmed Khan, he joined Radio Pakistan as English Newscaster in December 1970 and superannuated in the same capacity in April 1997. However, it was his passion for news reading that he kept on reading PBC news bulletins even after retirement till his confinement to bed in November 2010.

When I joined PBC on November 16, 1974 as a daily wager, Riaz Ahmed Khan was among the few seniors who greatly encouraged me. Those days, he would call me ‘young boy’. Despite my transfer to Central Monitoring Wing of the PBC in 1979, I used to listen to “The news read by Riaz Ahmed Khan” because of his excellent command over English language and its intonation. He had attained faultless pronunciation, unique style of delivery of words, correct stresses and pauses, brilliant news sense and the required confidence to meet emergent situation that arise so often in the broadcasting world. The recording of his opening announcement of PBC’s English news bulletins remained a permanent feature over the years.

Besides PBC, Riaz Ahmed Khan offered his services to many government organizations as a background voice [BG voice]. These included some defense organizations, Inter-Services Public Relations (documentaries for Kashmir Cell), Pakistan Television (commentary background and coaching of English newscasters), presidency 23rd March prestigious investiture ceremonies (1978 to 1996), and many other private organizations. He also performed coaching of PBC English newscasters throughout his career and even after his retirement.

On my transfer back to CNO in 2004, Riaz Ahmed Khan was the first to welcome me but this time, I was no longer a ‘young man’ but a ‘prince’ for him. He frequently lauded what I had gained by the time, and appreciated my style of editing. He never altered the words in news bulletins until and unless he consulted the editor concerned. He used to repeatedly rehearse the news bulletins. He repeatedly discussed ambiguities and confusions and particularly focused on names of foreign dignitaries and places. Throughout his illustrious career, Riaz Ahmed Khan showed up more than one hour before the scheduled time of his news bulletins, and performed his job diligently no matter what the weather conditions were – thunderstorms, chilling cold nights or scorching heat. Weather never stopped him from performing his duty on time and with punctuality.

Unfortunately, he had developed heart problem but with even of heart EF 13 percent, he was coming to office for the news daily till November 2010. Even then he was in an anxiety to carry on his news bulletin on air. And on February 27, 2011, he breathed his last at Shifa International, Islamabad. 

Other English newscasters, who inspired me included Jahanara Majeed [later Jahanara Moin], Sitwat Yousufzai, and Cherry Fazal Ilahi. [Part-VII to be uploaded on May 14]