A prayer ceremony was held in Kabul for Mujahid Kakar, a pioneer of journalism and former head of TOLOnews who died in May after years of battles against cancer.

The ceremony was attended by people from various layers of Afghan society including a number of political figures and media personalities.

Participants of the ceremony described Kakar as a role model who transformed journalism in Afghanistan.

Kakar was fighting with blood cancer for years and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Germany.

“He was working with deliberations and commitment to convey the voice of the truth to all those people willing to listen,” said Noor-ul-Haq Ulomi, an adviser to President Ashraf Ghani.

“Every step of his journalistic efforts was based on the principles of school of journalism and professionalism. Even during his illness, he never abandoned his job,” said Mujib Khalwatgar, head of NAI—Organization supporting Open Media in Afghanistan.

Kakar joined TOLO TV in 2005 and worked in different roles including translating, presenting and hosting political programs.

“Mujahid Kakar is a role model to all young journalists and those associated to media activities in Afghanistan,” said Wahid Omar, a presidential adviser.

Meanwhile, TOLOnews’ main studio was renamed as “Mujahid Kakar Studio” – the site for the first presidential debate in 2009, which he moderated.

Kakar became head of the TOLOnews network when it was formed in 2009.

Kakar was 50 years old and is survived by his two children and his wife.

In 2015, he received the Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award from the Afghanistan Journalists Center for years of distinguished contributions in the field of journalism, and for outstanding professional performance and dedication.