PFUJ terms Nelson Mandela a symbol of all struggle

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has termed the life and struggle of Nelson Mandela, as a symbol of all struggle for the cause of “freedom” and said, there is more to learn from his “Long Walk to Freedom,” than to mourn his death. “He was the father of all resistance movement and leader of the world not merely of South Africa,” PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General, Khursheed Abbasi said in a joint statement.

“ There is also a lesson for all leadership to learn. Mandela, could have ruled South Africa till his death, but he chose one term after freedom and pay way for others. Today, not many people knows who is the President of South Africa, but everyone knows who is Mandela,” PFUJ leaders said.

To pay a rich tribute to great leader Nelson Mandela, PFUJ and NPC jointly organized a memorial reference in National Press Club Islamabad Chaired by Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chudhry Abdul Majeed and Secretary PFUJ, Khurshid Abbasi. Participants observed One minutes silence to pay tribute to Mandela. AJK PM and leaders from AJK and PFUJ laid flowers on the Photo of Mandela and candles were lightened.

PM AJK Chudhry Abdul Majeed said that Mandela worked for humanity and source of great inspiration for freedom movements of the world specially Kashmir struggle. He announced that Mandela death will be mourned at state level in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and flag will fly half mast.

The Secretary General-PFUJ Khurshid Abbasi, said, Mandela, not only taught art of peaceful struggle, which is also a lesson for all those who believe in achieving their goals through “militancy. Today, millions of South Africans are paying tribute to their heor, for giving them “freedom and honor.”

PFUJ, as the representative body of the journalists community, which has a gloarious record of struggle for freedom of the Press in the country over the last 63 years, paid rich tribute to the great leader and his sacrifices, who remained in prison for 27 years to become world’s most famous prisoner in the 70s, but only come out of prison after getting freedom for its people.

PFUJ, share the grief with the people of South Africa in particular over the death of Nelson Mandela, who will continue to rule the heart and mind of all resistance movement against injustice and tyranny.

Memorial reference was attended by President Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt, Speaker Azad Kashmir assembly, Ministers of AJK governments, National Press Club office bearers and Members FEC-PFUJ Mushtaq Minhas, Muhammad Riaz and members of Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists.

Mr Khurshid Abbasi,

Secretary General-PFUJ