Maulana Zafar Ali Khan (1873-1956)

Writer, journalist and politician, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan belonged to a learned family of Karamabad district, Gujranwala, Punjab. He received his early education in Wazirabad and Patiala.

After completing his intermediate at Aligarh, he joined the postal department of the state of Jammu and Kashmir but resigned over a row with his seniors.

He rejoined the Aligarh College, graduated, and served as private secretary to the vice-chancellor of the college, Nawab Mohsinul Mulk, who sent him to Darul Tarjuman at Hyderabad Deccan. Although he did sizable translation work there, he left for Bombay after developing differences with the Home Secretary of Deccan Nawab Sarbuland.

Maulana Zafar Ali came back to Deccan after going through a series of unsuccessful business ventures in Bombay. He launched the magazine, The Deccan Review, which soon earned him fame.

At that time his father was editor of weekly Zamindar that was being published from Lahore. The weekly played a prominent role in Pagri Sambhal Jutta Movement aimed at asserting the rights of farmers in colonized areas.

Following his father’s death, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan moved to Lahore and took over Zamindar which became mouthpiece for Muslim anti-colonial politics. He joined the All-India Congress Committee and emerged as a fiery and powerful commentator.

While his agitational attitude earned him popularity, it also resulted in multiple incarcerations. During his time in jail, he composed some powerful devotional poetry. During this period he was a bitter critic of the All-India Muslim League. But when the Sangathan/Shuddhi movements began to gain popularity, he started harboring doubts about Congress’ Hindu leadership. And in 1945-46 he was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly as a Muslim League nominee. He was a key agitator in the Shahidgunj Mosque dispute and several other anti-British movements.

Maulana Zafar Ali penned 30 books, including seven collections of poetry, most notably: Baharistan, Nigaristan and Chamanistan. Some of his other well-known works are: Marka-e-Mazhab-o-Science, Ghalba-e-Rum, Sayr-e-Zulmet, and an opera Jang-e-Roos-o-Japan.

Source: The Oxford Companion to Pakistani History

Photo courtesy: http://farzana.wordpress.com/

Back

Majid Nizami (1928-2014)

Editor-in-chief and publisher of Nawa-i-Waqt, Majid Nizami was in the field of journalism for almost half a century. He was born in Sangla Hill in Sheikhupura, Punjab, and got his early education

Altaf Gauhar (1923-2000)

Altaf Gauhar was a man of extraordinary versatility, charm and intelligence. He was born in Gujranwala and received his education from the Government College, Lahore, after which he joined All-India Radio

Minhaj Barna (1925-2011)

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

Maulana Salahuddin Ahmad (1902-1964)

Maulana Salahuddin Ahmad, editor of one of the most prestigious journals, Adabi Dunya, was born on March 25, 1902. According to Rauf Parekh, he was not 'Maulana' in the sense that the word is

Yawar Hayat (1943-2016)

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

Zafar Iqbal Mirza

In the preface of Last Man, a compilation of his columns, Zafar Iqbal Mirza remembers his more than 42 years in journalism as "well and truly through the mill." His Lahori columns are a window

I A Rehman

A senior journalist and human rights activist, I A Rehman is known for his outspoken views. He served as editor-in-chief of The Pakistan Times from 1989-90. Since 1990 he has been serving as a director

Inam Aziz (-1993

Inam Aziz was one of Pakistan's best known journalists who began his long career in the profession with an Urdu daily in Lahore soon after independence. He worked in Peshawar for another newspaper

Newsroom

CBS airs previously shelved 60 Minutes Cecot prison report

January 19, 2026 CBS aired a shelved 60 Minutes report on El Salvador's CECOT prison, reigniting debate over editorial independence and alleged migrant abuses.

Bangladesh journalists fear heightened threats ahead of 2026 polls

January 19, 2026 A study finds Bangladeshi journalists expect heightened physical and digital threats ahead of the 2026 elections, citing safety gaps and weak newsroom support.

Press freedom concerns grow as threats to journalists rise in Indonesia

January 19, 2026 A Jakarta Post report found 89 incidents in 2025 of violence, digital harassment and censorship against Indonesian journalists, raising alarm over press freedom.

How editors decide what not to publish on quiet news days

January 18, 2026 On slow news days editors withhold pieces lacking relevance, accuracy or public interest, and avoid publishing material that raises legal or ethical risks.

Siasat.pk shuts Islamabad office as pressure mounts

January 18, 2026 Siasat.pk has shut its Islamabad office after 8 years, citing pressure and the detention of journalist Sohrab Barkat that staff say made operations untenable.