The family of the late Dr. Syed Rifaat Hussain, a distinguished academic and scholar, has accused his younger brother, anchorperson Syed Talat Hussain, of subjecting their father to severe “psychological distress” and “mental anguish” during his final days.
Dr. Rifaat Hussain passed away last week at the age of 73 after a prolonged illness. In a strongly worded statement, his family dismissed Talat Hussain’s public expressions of grief as “deceptive” and “contrary to reality,” Hum News reported on Tuesday.
The family rejected Talat Hussain’s social media tributes to his late brother, denouncing them as a “fabricated narrative” and an attempt to “conceal the truth.”
“To uphold our father’s legacy, it is imperative to reveal the facts. His life was defined by honesty and integrity, and he bore no malice toward anyone,” the family stated.
The statement further alleged that both Talat Hussain and their eldest brother, Fayyaz Hussain, distanced themselves from the funeral arrangements.
“The reality is that Mr. Talat refused to attend our father’s funeral and Namaz-e-Janazah on March 7, 2025. He also obstructed his siblings and close relatives from participating and has remained absent from all proceedings to date,” the statement claimed.
Moreover, the family accused Talat Hussain of exerting undue pressure on medical professionals to prematurely discharge Dr. Rifaat from the ICU despite his deteriorating condition, which included double pneumonia, multiple organ failure, and critically high blood sugar levels.
“Talat’s actions were driven by a relentless desire to wield power and control, demonstrating his ability to disrupt our lives,” the family asserted.
