Tribute Paid to Late Zahid Malik at Lahore Press Club

LAHORE (RNN TV) —  A ceremony was held at the Lahore Press Club (LPC) to pay tribute to the journalistic and national contributions of the late Zahid Malik (Sitara-e-Imtiaz), founder and Chief Editor of Pakistan Observer. Speakers at the event highlighted Malik’s multifaceted personality, describing him not only as a seasoned journalist but also as an author, human rights advocate, patriotic Pakistani, and religious scholar.

The event was organized by the Lahore Press Club and attended by Malik’s family. The current Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of Pakistan Observer, Faisal Zahid Malik, was the guest of honor, while renowned analyst and senior journalist Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami presided over the ceremony. Other speakers included Acting President of LPC Afzal Talib, President of Punjab Press Gallery Committee Khawaja Naseer Ahmed, Secretary-General of Punjab Union of Journalists Qamar-uz-Zaman Bhatti, President of Photojournalists Association Syed Pervez Altaf, and former Senior Vice President of LPC Amjad Usmani.

Speaking at the event, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami said that Zahid Malik played a key role in introducing and defending Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. He also made significant contributions toward strengthening Pakistan-China relations. Shami noted that while Malik was a soft-spoken person, he remained firm in his principles and journalistic stance.

Faisal Zahid Malik highlighted that his father had been a strong voice on issues such as Kashmir and Palestine. He shared that Malik had a close association with Dr. A.Q. Khan and had written extensively on the topic, with many of his works influenced by his book Dr. Qadeer and the Islamic Bomb. Faisal recalled that Malik faced legal challenges under the Official Secrets Act because he refused to compromise on journalistic principles.

He further mentioned the challenges that arose during General Pervez Musharraf’s government following the publication of Debriefing of Dr. Qadeer, which drew strong governmental disapproval, including complaints from Musharraf himself. Despite facing difficulties under various administrations, Zahid Malik also played an important role in fostering reconciliation among leadership in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Faisal remembered that even on his final days, Malik remained more concerned about Pakistan’s situation than his own health.

Other speakers at the event, including Acting President LPC Afzal Talib, President of Punjab Assembly Press Gallery Khawaja Naseer Ahmed, former Senior Vice President LPC Amjad Usmani, and Amrees Khan, also shared their memories and paid tribute to the late journalist’s lifelong contributions.