PUJ Marks Nisar Usmani’s 31st death anniversary at Lahore Press Club

LAHORE: The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) on Wednesday organised a memorial reference at the Lahore Press Club to mark the 31st death anniversary of veteran journalist leader Nisar Usmani.

The event, held on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), was attended by a large number of journalists, union leaders and senior media figures. PFUJ Secretary General Arshad Ansari, senior journalists Suhail Warraich and Imtiaz Alam, PUJ Vice President Nadeem Zaeem, General Secretary Qamar Bhatti and Lahore Press Club Secretary Zahid Abid were among the key participants.

Addressing the gathering, speakers paid glowing tributes to Nisar Usmani for his struggle for press freedom, democracy and the rights of journalists. They said today’s media professionals needed to emulate Usmani’s courage to question authority and highlight public issues.

Mr Warraich said he continued to stand by every word of his columns and reiterated his claim regarding a meeting with the army chief. He stressed that journalists should revive Usmani’s spirit of fearlessly raising questions.

PFUJ’s Arshad Ansari criticised agenda-based journalism, saying it had contributed to the imposition of “black laws” such as PECA. He said PFUJ would hold regular events to honour senior leaders like Nisar Usmani and Minhaj Barna in order to inspire younger journalists.

Imtiaz Alam said journalists needed to face contemporary challenges with the same commitment and bravery as their predecessors.

Senior journalists Ashraf Suhail, Sajjad Anwar, Allama Siddique Azhar, Hamid Nawaz and others also addressed the ceremony. Poet Baba Najmi recited his verses as a tribute to the late Usmani.

A large number of journalists, media workers and union leaders from across Lahore attended the memorial.