Its conferment on a journalist sterling credibility and impeccable integrity is a nation’s debt repaid, and adds to the credibility of the civilian award.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: The civil society and media circles have welcomed a government move to posthumously confer Sitara-e-Imtiaz on the late Ziauddin, a journalist of towering stature known for his integrity and professionalism.
The conferment of the award on the late journalist, the country’s third-highest civilian honour, was announced by Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal the other day at a condolence reference organised by the Ministry on the occasion of the late journalist’s first death anniversary.
This is the first time in the country’s history that a journalist has been honoured posthumously for his outstanding contributions in the field of journalism. The award will be received by his family on August 14, 2023.
The event was attended by civil society activists, journalists and people from different walks of life. The participants appreciated the Ministry of Planning Commission for taking this initiative.
Ziauddin passed away after a prolonged illness on November 29, 2021 at the age of 83 in Islamabad. During his illustrious career spanning over 60 years, Ziauddin had worked extensively for almost all major newspapers of the country including The Muslim, The News, Dawn and The Express Tribune.
“Ziauddin sahib was an institution and a thorough professional and journalists like him are born in decades, said the Minister paying tribute to the late journalist. He advised young journalists to follow his footsteps to progress professionally in their respective lives.
The Minister said that it is the need of the hour to produce more journalists like late Ziauddin to continue the legacy.
The Minister also announced the establishment of a Development Communication Department in the name of late Ziauddin at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) for young students and also launching courses for journalists on the name of late journalists in order to facilitate the young journalists.
Speaking on the occasion, the participants paid rich tributes to Ziauddin who spend his whole life for the independent journalism, democracy and betterment of the media workers
Renowned journalist Hamid Mir while paying tribute to Ziauddin said that he was one of the journalists who stood against the country’s dictators and faced the worst time of Gen Zia and Gen Musharraf.
“Till his death Zia sahib tried to unite the journalist community which was divided by the various dictators and today his unfinished agenda to unite the journalist community must be completed for the rule of law and for the democracy in the country,” said Hamid Mir.
Paying rich tributes to the late journalist, senior journalist Matiullah Jan proposed to compile all the work of Ziauddin particularly so the young journalists could read. He also shed some light on his struggle to unite the journalist which continued till his death.
Well-known journalist Mehtab Haider said that Ziauddin was a great person and an editor who shared knowledge.
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