Posthumous award for The Nation journalist Siraj-ud-Din

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 September 2015

Siraj-ud-Din, a journalist martyred in 2008, was honored posthumously with the Pillar of Pakistan Award. The event in Islamabad recognized his bravery in journalism.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Journalists Foundation Pakistan posthumously awarded Pillar of Pakistan Award to martyred journalist Siraj-ud-Din of The Nation in recognition of his valuable services to journalism.

At an event organized in Islamabad, speakers paid rich tributes to Siraj who was killed in a suicide attack in 2008 in Mingora, Swat. During the rise of the Taliban in Swat valley, he received life threats from the militants for not publishing their viewpoint. He, however, refused to bow before the Taliban pressure and kept highlighting their atrocities against innocent people of the valley.

The Islamabad event was attended by journalists, ambassadors, writers, government officials and politicians.

Haroon Siraj (pictured, right), son of the deceased, himself a working journalist, received the award.

KEY POINTS:

• Siraj-ud-Din received the Pillar of Pakistan Award posthumously.
• He was killed in a suicide attack in 2008 in Mingora, Swat.
• Siraj faced threats from the Taliban but continued reporting their atrocities.
• The award was presented at an event attended by notable figures.
• His son Haroon Siraj accepted the award on his behalf.