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Seminar on ‘Crime Investigative Reporting: A Tribute to Asad Sahi’
Seminar on ‘Crime Investigative Reporting: A Tribute to Asad Sahi’


Investigative reporting on the decline: speakers
Dr Mujahid Kamran, Mian Ghaffar, Najam Wali, Mirza Naseer Baig, Mian Habibullah, Khalid Qayyum Chaudhary, Dr Zakria Zakir, Dr Noshina Saleem addressed the event
LAHORE: (Monday, April 27, 2015): Investigative reporting in general and crime investigative reporting in particular is on the decline and only a handful of organisations have recruited special correspondents for this purpose, said speakers of a seminar titled “Crime Investigative Reporting: A Tribute to Asad Sahi” at Punjab University (PU) Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) here on Monday.
Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran presided over the event, while senior crime reporter Mirza Naseer Baig, Mian Habibullah, Daily Express Editor Reporting Khalid Qayyum Chaudhary, Mian Ghaffar, Najam Wali Khan participated in the seminar. ICS Incharge Director Dr Noshina Saleem, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Dean Dr Zakria Zakir, faculty members and a large number of students also participated in the event.
PU VC Dr Mujhaid Kamran said that there were no shortcuts in life and hard work, dedication and passion always paid off. He said Asad Sahi was being remembered today because of his work and excellence. He advised the students of ICS to take Asad Sahi's example and work hard. He said ICS had taken a great initiative organising a seminar on this topic. He said he had learnt a lot about investigative reporting while listening to the speakers. He appreciated the efforts of Dr Noshina Saleem and faculty members of ICS for arranging the event.
Mirza Naseer Baig said investigative reporting was more important in Pakistani society because justice was not provided to the masses and investigative reporting helped people who were being denied their rights by the institutions of the state. He said the basic purpose of investigative reporting was to expose the truth and it was the purest form of journalism. He said Asad Sahi was one of the best investigative reporters in the country, who did his job responsibly and diligently.
Mian Habibullah said that investigative reporting was a broad field that directly effected society as it showed things that were normally hidden from plain sight. He said crime reporting was not only about reporting what had happened, but it also involved investigating thing that were hidden from public and buried in records. He said Asad Sahi was a hardworking man who gave his best at whatever task he was given.
Khalid Qayyum Chaudhary said he started his reporting career with Asad Sahi and he was the best crime investigative reporter of Pakistan, which could be easily seen by his news stories and articles. He said it was unfortunate that the culture of investigative reporting was fading away and it was being discouraged at news organisations. He said investigative journalism was the bread and butter of news organisation, but only a few organisations practice it in Pakistan. He said Asad Sahi had been practicing investigative journalism since 1996 and even filed an investigative report on the day he died. He said crime investigative reporting was particularly difficult as law enforcement and criminals both pressurise journalists. Despite these pressures and problems, Asad Sahi always wrote and said the truth.
Mian Ghaffar said that Asad Sahi was a hardworking journalist, who was always working. He said Asad Sahi helped a lot of people through his work and that was his legacy and the reason people would remember him for a long time. He said crime investigative reporting, if done properly, reduces crime in society. “We need more journalists like Asad Sahi,” he added.
Najam Wali said journalism required hard work and dedication and Asad Sahi did both. He said Sahi was one of the most hardworking and dedicated journalist he knew. He said Asad Sahi showed both – the good and the bad – aspects of police, which shows his commitment to journalism and adherence to journalistic ethics.
Dr Zakria Zakir thanked the guests and said that such discussions should be held at universities, as they helped students develop critical thinking and professionalism.
Dr Noshina Saleem lauded the journalistic services of Asad Sahi. She said that there were only a few investigative reporters in Pakistan and Asad Sahi was one of the best. She said students should learn from his work.
On this occasion, special prayer was offered for late Asad Sahi and flowers were presented to his brothers Aoun Abbas Sahi and Ali Muslim Sahi by the vice chancellor.