It is with profound sadness and unbearable grief that we share the passing of Ikramullah, our dear friend, colleague, and brother, who left this world on June 29, 2025, after a sudden cardiac arrest. His loss is not just a personal tragedy, it is a wound that cuts deep into the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Ikramullah was a founding member of Tribal News Network (TNN), serving as our Finance and Accounts Officer from the very beginning until 2019. He was more than a finance professional—he was the quiet force behind the stability and integrity of our organization. His calm demeanor, precise work, and unshakable commitment were foundational in building TNN’s operations from the ground up.
I still remember the day I interviewed him. I asked, “Can you manage the daily travel from Mardan to Peshawar?” Without hesitation, he smiled and said, “In a few months, I’ll shift my family to Peshawar.” But that shift never came.
For over 12 years, he commuted faithfull, never late, never complaining. His reason for staying in Mardan? He simply couldn’t bring himself to leave behind his extended family. He was always helping his brothers, supporting their children’s education, and offering whatever he could to ease their burdens. That was the kind of man Ikram was—selfless to a fault.
Ikramullah was a man of unwavering faith. I cannot recall a single day he missed a prayer. His life was built on the quiet strength of devotion, to Allah, to his family, and to the responsibilities he carried on his shoulders every single day. Even during his father’s long illness, Ikram served him with a devotion that moved everyone who saw it. His love, loyalty, and sacrifice were endless.
In his final years, Ikramullah became entangled in a tragic situation. A friend he trusted deeply convinced him to invest a large amount of money, with promises of doubling it quickly. Ikram, ever honest and well-meaning, not only gave his own savings but also collected investments from others who trusted him. I was one of the people he approached. I told him then, “This sounds like another Double Shah. In this economy, high returns like that aren’t real.” He smiled, gently, and said he trusted his friend. But that trust was betrayed. The friend disappeared into bankruptcy, leaving Ikram devastated—financially, emotionally, and morally. Yet he never spoke ill of anyone. He shouldered the entire responsibility in silence.
Just last week, I spoke to him during a virtual meeting about project finances. He was cheerful, smiling, as always. You’d never know the storm he was carrying inside. That was Ikram, never wanting to trouble others with his pain. His laughter from that meeting still rings in my ears. Who could have imagined it would be the last time we’d hear his voice?
Ikram dreamed of financial stability, a better future for his children, and reuniting his family in one home. But fate was cruel. The stress he buried so deeply, the quiet heartbreak he never voiced, finally overwhelmed his heart.
His passing is not just the loss of a skilled finance officer or a committed colleague. It is the loss of a kind soul, a silent warrior, a man who gave everything to others and asked for nothing in return. Those who worked with him know he never raised his voice, never missed a deadline, never turned away when someone needed help.
Ikramullah is survived by his wife, three sons, and a daughter. May Allah (SWT) grant his family strength and patience, and may his children grow up walking proudly in the footsteps of a man who lived with integrity, faith, and grace.
