LAHORE - Speakers at Hameed Nizami Press Institute of Pakistan (HNPIP) paid tribute to the founder of Nawa-i-Waqt group, late Hameed Nizami, for his great services rendered to Pakistan Movement and journalism.
They were speaking at a seminar titled ‘Hameed Nizami’s Independence and Ideological journalism – Impacts on Present Day Media” on Friday.
“Nawa-i-Waqt played a great role in establishing public opinion towards Muslim League and creation of Pakistan,” they held.
“Media is one of the most important pillars of the state, while Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper has played immense role in the promotion of freedom of media. Nawa-i-Waqt is the only newspaper that has upheld Nazaria-e-Pakistan in the country,” they added.
Justice (r) Mehboob Ahmad presided over while Bushra Rehman and Dr Farid Piracha were the chief guests. Speakers included Prof Naeem Masaud and Tanvir Zahoor. HNPIP Director Absar Abdul Ali was the moderator.
Justice Mehboob Ahmad said that though journalists should be independent but not be above the set norms and violate journalism ethics. He said that the insulting behavior on the part of journalists sometimes bulldozed sacred mission of this profession. He urged the journalist organization to themselves devise strict journalism code and ensure they were being practiced. He said that the achievements of late Hameed Nizami were countless and in short he wrote history and paved the way for freedom of speech.
Former parliamentarian Bushra Rehman on the occasion said that any discussion on journalism would be incomplete without discussing bright star of journalism that was Hameed Nizami. The writings, columns and editorials of the late Hameed Nizami reflect World Wars, poverty, blood shed after partition and class distinction. She said that the chronic circumstances, poor state of affairs of the Muslims led to freedom of speech and the Pakistan Movement. “If my nation has sensible young men like Hameed Nizami, my nation’s future is very bright,” she quoted Quaid-e-Azam
Dr Farid Piracha said that when Quaid-e-Azam was alone on the target of Hindu media, Hameed Nizami started supporting the Quaid, two nation theory and the Pakistan Movement. He said that services of the great journalist were really immortal and his whistleblower Nawa-i-Waqt became promoter of the ideas of the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that journalists of this age must learn from Shorish Kashmiri, Moulana Zafar Ali Khan, and Hameed Nizami. Even today the shining stars of journalism follow Hameed Nizami’s lessons.
Prof Naeem Masaud said that Hameed Nizami presented the truth even when Pakistan unfortunately faced the worst martial law. He said Hameed Nizami highlighted the problems of people and urged the ruling elite to resolve them. He said Hameed Nizami’s editorials were masterpieces of journalistic writings that played pivotal role in government’s policymaking. He said that Hameed Nizami preferred to be a martyr than compromising on his principles.
Tanvir Zahoor said that Hameed Nizami was a great patriot and believed in democracy. His determination to say right word even in front of the cruel rulers made him a historic figure in the comity of journalists, he held.