LAHORE - Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust (NPT) held a special sitting on Wednesday to commemorate the services of eminent journalist and founder of Muslim Students’ Federation, Hameed Nizami, on his death anniversary at the Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan.
With NPT Chairman Rafique Tarar in the chair, the speakers included Col (r) Jamshed Ahmed Tarin, Prof Dr Rafique Ahmed, Prof Ataur Rehman, Dr Mugheesud Din Sheikh, Justice (r) Mian Aftab Farrukh, Absar Abdul Ali, Mian Habibullah and Dr MA Sufi addressed the gathering. A large number of intellectuals, students and people were also present on the occasion.
Delivering his presidential address, Rafique Tarar observed that it was important for the media circles to adopt and promote right kind of journalistic values in pursuance of those exhibited by Hameed Nizami and Dr Majid Nizami.
Tarrar recalled that it was on the Quaid’s suggestion that Hameed Nizami promulgated the fortnightly Nawa-i-Waqt. Hameed Nizami, a great admirer and associate of the Quaid-i-Azam, got distributed the very first issue of his paper to the participants of the Muslim League Session held at the Manto Park, where the Pakistan Resolution was passed, he further observed.
“He laid dawn his life while combating the insurgencies of the first dictator. Following his elder brothers’ struggle, Majid Nizami boldly confronted the dictators from Ayub Khan to Gen Musharaf. Nizami’s forceful editorials provided logical and undeniable answers to the opponents. His newspaper conveyed the message of the Muslim League to every nook and corner of the subcontinent,” he continued.
Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad observed that Hameed Nizami rose to eminence through his daily Nawa-i-Waqt even in the presence of the Zamindar and Ehsan. Rafique was proud to have his translated articles published by Hameed Nizami in his prestigious newspaper.
“One of Hameed Nizami’s virtues was to encourage the writers and impart to them the analytical insight, which was sure to have a strong impact on the hearts and minds of the readers,” he commented.
Prof Ataur Rehman exhorted the youngsters to follow in steps of the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He also advised them to acquaint themselves with life and services of Hameed Nizami and Dr Majid Nizami besides all our national heroes.
Dr Mugheesud Din Sheikh emphasised the need for self-accountability. He urged the journalists to seek guidance from the guidelines set by Hameed Nizami, who happens to be the leader of all the genuine journalists.
Absar Abdul Ali observed that Hameed Nizami was an epoch-making journalist who could be termed the initiator of the ideology of true journalism. “He, most willingly, laid down his life confronting the machinations of the first dictator of Pakistan,” Absar remarked, adding that Majid Nizami transformed the ideology subscribed to by his elder brother into a veritable movement, a great institution.
Habibullah’s ideas were much acclaimed by the audience. “Man is, no doubt, mortal. But his character lives on,” he said. “Informing against the honest and straightforward people having independent thinking and getting them persecuted is another evil which has raised its head. Shortcut in every field of life is thought to be the only way to success. These are all the sure signs of a decadent society,” he observed.
Col (r) Tareen, MA Sufi and Ali Josh also shared their views on the occasion.