Jamsheed Marker: ‘World’s longest-serving’ Pakistani ambassador passes away

 

ISLAMABAD: Seasoned Pakistani diplomat Jamsheed Marker, who also holds the record of longest-serving ambassador in the world,  passed away in Karachi on Thursday. He was 95.

Marker still holds of the honour of having been “ambassador to more countries than any other person for over 30 years.”

Marker, served for three decades in various important embassies of Pakistan, but reached the most successful phase of his career with his back-to-back appointments as Pakistani Ambassador to Bonn, Paris and Washington DC during the tenure of Gen Zia (1977-1988).

He was awarded with Sitara-i-Quaid-e-Azam and Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his long standing and dignified standing as a diplomat. His memoirs in the book ‘Quiet Diplomacy’ tells the whole story.

Marker was also passionate about cricket before he entered the diplomatic career. He had become a household name along with Omar Kureishi when India visited Pakistan on their first tour to this country in 1954-55. He was a radio commentator for the sport.

He kept his interest in the game afresh even when he roamed the world as Pakistan’s ambassador and high commissioner in more countries.