LAHORE - Dr Majid Nizami is being remembered on his 88th birth anniversary - April 3 - while the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust will celebrate it as “Majid Nizami Day”.
Today, a special ceremony will be held at Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan, where prominent personalities from different walks of life shall throw light on the life and achievements of the legendary journalist and former editor-in-chief of Nawa-i-Waqt Group.
NPT chairman Muhamamd Rafique Tarar, along with Pakistan Movement veterans, will cut the birthday cake at a ceremony in collaboration with Pakistan Movement Workers Trust.
Dr Majid Nizami was born at Sangla Hill on April 3, 1928. During his education at the Islamia College, Railway Road, he actively participated in Pakistan Movement. During the historical elections of 1946, he vigorously campaigned for the Muslim League candidates.
In recognition of his meritorious services for Pakistan Movement, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, bestowed upon him a certificate of Mujahid-i-Pakistan and an honorary sword in 1954.
He did his masters in Political Science from the Government College Lahore and afterwards he left for London as a correspondent of daily Nawa-i-Waqt.
During his stay at London, he was informed of the severe illness of his elder brother Hameed Nizami. He came back in Feb, 1962. After the death of Hameed Nizami he assumed the office of editor-in-chief on February 25, 1962 and transformed it into a true mouthpiece of national aspirations.
Nizami considered Pakistan as a sacred trust of the Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and hundreds of thousands of martyrs of Pakistan Movement. He devoted his life to defending the ideological frontiers of Pakistan. When Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah contested election against military dictator Ayub Khan, Dr Nizami fully supported the sister of founding father.
His life was symbol of consistent struggle. To say what was right even in the face of dictators was the most salient feature of his personality and character. He never compromised his principles. He stood for freedom of speech and expression.
Dr Nizami was appreciated for his valour & perseverance. He constantly warned the nation against the evil and nefarious designs of India. He launched a vigorous campaign against the water aggression of India.
Be it “Tehrik-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwat”, or “Tehrik-i-Nizam-i-Mustafa”, “Movement for the Restoration of Democracy” or “Tehrik-i-Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat”, Majid Nizami and his publications played a pivotal role.
To safeguard the national interest was his mission. Under his capable leadership, Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust, Nawa-i-Waqt group of publications and Waqt news TV channel valorously confronted the ideological & hegemonic enemies of Pakistan. He was the founding trustee of Pakistan Movement Workers Trust.
The Government of Punjab awarded him Sitara-i-Pakistan, Sitara-i-Imtiaz, and Nishan-i-Pakistan in recognition of his services. Due to his consistent support for the Kashmiris’ struggle of self-determination, he was known as “Mujahid-i-Kashmir” amongst Kashmiris.
The Punjab government also renamed the Lawrence Road as Shahrah-i-Majid Nizami in recognition of his 70-year-long journalistic and 50-year-long editorial services for the daily Nawa-i-Waqt.
He passed away in Lahore on July 26, 2014.