Remembering Majid Nizami on his 7th death anniversary

LAHORE—The 7th death anniversary of legendary journalist and Nawa-i-Waqt Group Editor-in-Chief Majid Nizami is being observed on July 26.

Nizami devoted his entire life to defending the ideological frontiers of Pakistan through fearless and bold journalism. When Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah contested the election against military dictator Ayub Khan, Nizami supported her wholeheartedly. He never compromised his principles.

During his student life, he actively participated in the Pakistan Movement, led by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He vigorously campaigned for the Muslim League candidates in the historic 1946 elections.

In recognition of his meritorious contributions to the Pakistan Movement, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, bestowed upon him a certificate of Mujahid-i-Pakistan and an honorary sword.

He did his master’s in political science from the Government College Lahore and later left for London as a correspondent of daily Nawa-i-Waqt. After the demise of his older brother Hameed Nizami, he became editor-in-chief on February 25, 1962, and transformed the paper into a true mouthpiece of national aspirations.

His outspoken journalism brought him into direct conflict and victimization by almost all the subsequent regimes in Pakistan. Despite immense pressures, Majid strove to maintain an independent stance as far as his newspaper was concerned. He was offered key positions in the government by political leaders from time to time but he always declined, focusing instead on journalistic work.

The Punjab government named the Lawrence Road as Shahrah-i-Majid Nizami to recognize his 70-year-long journalistic and 50-year editorial services for Nawa-i-Waqt.

Nizami, born on April 3, 1928, passed away in Lahore on July 26, 2014.

Photo courtesy: nation.com.pk

Source: Journalism Pakistan