The death of Minhaj Barna in Rawalpindi at the age of 87 on January 14, 2011 marked the end of an era.Even journalists who had never met him in person were familiar with his name and his status as the founder of the trade union movement for newspaper employees in the country.
Barna commanded huge respect as the founder of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the All-Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation. He played a key role, in the early 1970s, in establishing a viable wage structure for newspaper staffers.
He was more than a union activist, however. From 1977 to 1988, he led the journalists’ movement against repressive policies of Gen Ziaul Haq with great courage. His leadership kept the media united.
A chant among his followers Tere saath marna, there sath jina Minhaj Barna became the battle cry throughout the encounter between him and censoring authorities.
In life he was considered a legend and his death grieved thousands of media personnel and press workers. To both, he was a great leader and always worked for their welfare.
He also published a book of poetry, Marsia: Chouthay Satoon Ka, elegy of the Fourth Estate which is more or less a sequel to Zameer Niazi’s study lamenting the curbs placed on free press by authoritarian governments.
Barna became interested in upholding freedom of speech as a student in pre-Independence New Delhi of Jame Millia. He joined the All-India Youth Federation and began to take interest in the Communist Party.
His career started with Urdu newspaper Inqilab at Bombay (now Mumbai). After Independence Barna came to Pakistan and started as a journalist anew by turning to English press and became famous as a fierce trade union leader upholding the cause of press workers and journalists.
At one time he led a 10-day strike against low wages during which no newspaper could be published. He led a hunger strike to keep alive the Pakistan People’s Party newspaper Musaawat but could not keep it from folding up. – The News; JournalismPakistan.com
Ghulam Rasul Mehr hailed from Jallunder in East Punjab. He received his education in Lahore from the Mission High School and Islamia College, after which he joined the education department in
Born on October 18, 1943, Yawar Hayat is celebrated as one of the chief architects of Pakistan Television (PTV). The son of Brigadier Azmat Hayat Khan, he was the grandson of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan
Omar Kureishi was a distinguished Pakistani writer. He worked in advertising, aviation and journalism, writing for many newspapers, including Dawn, The Pakistan Times, Morning News and The Guardian, London.
Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman was the Founder and Editor of the Jang Group of Newspapers.. A self-made newspaper magnate he ranks among the most successful newspaper entrepreneurs in Asia.
Farooq Mazhar was Pakistan's most prominent sports journalist, television commentator and former Editor of The News. He died on April 28, 2001 in Bahrain enroute to America after a short illness.
One of the pioneers of journalism in Pakistan, Altaf first came to notice with his forceful advocacy of Indian Muslims' case in colonial India through articles in the press (as a government servant he
Born in 1924 in Bhopal, Ahmed Ali Khan's association with Dawn began in Delhi in 1946 and ended in Karachi in 2004. He remained with the newspaper for nearly 42 years - 28 of them as editor
Before joining journalism, Anjum Niaz taught at the Karachi American School and Pakistan American Council. A master's in English Literature from the Punjab University, she joined the
April 28, 2025 India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 23, 2025 Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.