PU to publish Maulana Zafar Ali Khan editorials in book form
Senior print media chiefs, PU VC, provincial ombudsman address 136th birth anniversary of great freedom fighter

LAHORE : (Monday, January 18, 2010): Chief Editor daily Nawa-i-Waqt Mr. Majid Niazami has said that Maulana Zafar Ali Khan was a great journalist, unique writer and a fiery orator. He was addressing a function held in connection with 136th birth anniversary of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan here at Punjab University Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) on Monday. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran presided over the ceremony while President All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Chairman Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Trust Khalid Mahmood, Dean Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences Prof Dr Mughees-ud-Din Sheikh, ICS Director Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz, Director TV One Sajjad Mir, Chief Reporter Jang Maqsood Butt and CPRO Dr Nadeem-ul-Hassan Gillani also addressed the audience.

Mr. Majid Nizami said that Maulana Zafar Ali Khan never compromised on upholding the principles of truth and freedom of expression, even at the cost of closure of daily Zamindar and forfeiture of guarantee regarding his newspaper. No one has made such supreme sacrifices for journalism as Maulana Zafar Ali Khan has rendered. The Punjab government has obliged the nation by establishing Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Trust, he added. He described the compilation of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan's poetry in a book form as a great accomplishment. He said no journalist can be termed as a second Maulana Zafar Ali Khan in view of the unprecedented independent nature of his journalism. He said APNS President Mr. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman has always promoted the glorious traditions set by the late Maulana Zafar Ali Khan. He said despite his advanced age, he has never considers himself to be a senior citizen. However, on an invitation by the Turkish government in February last, he had to chair the World Senior Citizen conference in Turkey .

PU VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran approved the setting up of ‘Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chair' at the ICS in principle and also announced that PU shall undertake the printing work of the Maulana's editorials published in the daily Zamindar in a book form. He directed the concerned authorities to prepare cost estimates of constructing a seminar hall consisting of 250 seats adjacent to the ICS. He said the celebration of birth anniversary of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan has rekindled the passion of freedom movement in us. He impressed upon the journalism students to follow the journalistic style of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan which deeply impacts the minds and hearts of readers. Describing the world as a war arena, he exhorted the younger generation to equip themselves with modern scientific and technological knowledge to live honourably in the comity of nations. He said Mr. Majid Nizami and Mr. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman are custodian of the glorious traditions in the journalistic profession, set by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan.

APNS President and Chief Editor Daily Pakistan Mr. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, while paying glowing tributes to the late Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, said that he had never flinched in his commitment to principled journalism. No matter what the cost is involved, he always stood by his viewpoint. The late Maulana had equal superiority in English, Urdu and Arabic languages. Once the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah remarked that if only he had a dozen persons of the caliber of Maulan Zafar Ali Khan, he could bring about revolution in every segment of society. He asked the journalism students to have full command over their subjects as they have to render the role of a preacher and ambassador for spreading Maulan Zafar Ali Khan's message across the world. He paid rich tributes to the PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran on his singular services for promoting highly quality education at the Punjab University .

The Chief Reporter daily Jang Mr. Masood Butt stated that no journalist can equal the high journalistic standard set by Maulan Zafar Ali Khan. He said the need for patriotic leaders like the late Maulana was never so great, as it is today. The ED TV One Mr. Sajjad Mir said that Maulan Zafar Ali Khan used his journalistic profession for the purpose of awakening the Muslims of Indian subcontinent to free them from the yoke of the British and the Hindus. Contrary to this, today our journalism has become an industry and is replete with commercial interests. The Provincial Ombudsman and founding Chairman of Maulan Zafar Ali Khan Trust Mr. Khalid Mahmood observed that the nations who forget their freedom heroes and benefactors, cause irreparable damage to their independence. He regretted that today the looters and plunderers of the national wealth and film world celebrities have become the heroes of our younger generation.

Dean Faculty of Behavioral and Social Science Prof Dr Mughees-ud-Din Sheikh stated the ICS would soon be holding a function to award gold medals to the prominent journalists in recognition and acknowledgement of their services in the journalistic profession. The Director ICS Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz in his welcome address said that the British had not presented the freedom in a platter to us, rather it was snatched by the patriotic leaders like Maulan Zafar Ali Khan who used their pen as a sword for this purpose.

Later, the PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran inaugurated the newly established canteen for the students and teachers at ICS.