PFUJ honors Minhaj Barna on death anniversary

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 14 January 2026 |  JP Staff Report

PFUJ paid tribute to Minhaj Barna on his death anniversary, noting his decades-long defence of press freedom and tireless advocacy for journalists' labor rights. Leaders recalled his resistance to censorship and imprisonment under authoritarian regimes.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists paid tributes to veteran journalist and trade union leader Minhaj Barna on his death anniversary, remembering his lifelong struggle for press freedom and journalists’ rights in Pakistan.

In a statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary-General Arshad Ansari highlighted Barna’s role as a principled and fearless voice who consistently challenged authoritarian rule and defended the rights of working journalists and marginalized communities.

A lifelong symbol of press freedom

PFUJ leaders said Barna’s legacy continues to inspire journalists across the country, noting that his resistance to censorship and intimidation set benchmarks for professional integrity that remain relevant today. They recalled that Barna never retreated from his positions, even during periods of severe repression, including the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq, when restrictions on the press were at their harshest.

Career shaped by resistance and advocacy

Minhaj Barna began his journalism career in the 1950s with the Pakistan Times and later served as bureau chief of the daily The Muslim, which was launched in 1979. During the 1960s, under the Ayub Khan era, he emerged as a prominent progressive journalist and an influential trade unionist.

He was elected to several offices within the PFUJ and became known for organizing journalists around issues of labor rights, editorial independence, and freedom of expression. His criticism of successive governments led to repeated imprisonments, underscoring the personal cost of his activism.

Across multiple political periods, including the governments of Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and General Zia-ul-Haq, Barna’s commentary and public engagement remained a constant presence in Pakistan’s media landscape. PFUJ leaders said his example serves as a reminder of the profession’s responsibility to uphold ethical standards and resist undue pressure.

ATTRIBUTION: Information based on public statements issued by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and documented historical records of Pakistan’s media history.