SYED Amjad Hussain, a veteran journalist with over 50 years of dedicated service to the profession, passed away at Lahore on Tuesday at the age of 89 after a protracted illness. He was a versatile writer with a varied experience. Apart from his journalistic writings he had to his credit two literary works containing light essays. He also wrote dramas for Radio Pakistan. Amjad Hussain's writings reflected the insight that a keen observer of life, gifted with a sharp intellect and humane feelings, could acquire. He belonged to that class of writers and journalists, which believes in putting across its views without fear or favour. And that professional quality of unbiased presentation of facts, describing the situation as he saw it, was always appreciated by his readers. Joining the West Pakistan Public Relations Department as Information Officer after the formation of One Unit in the mid-50s, he moved on to The Pakistan Times as Chief Reporter and later rose to be its Editor, worked as PTV correspondent and was the first among TV commentators in the country to go on air with his comments. In the late 1980s, he joined The Nation as Editor Coordination of the late issue, and for a while was the Bureau Chief of The Muslim at Lahore. He also had a stint at Colombo as a press correspondent. Those who have known Syed Amjad Hussain or have worked with him would miss the gentle, winning smile that would greet them every time they met him.