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Call to adopt journalistic values of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan
Call to adopt journalistic values of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan


LAHORE: (Wednesday, December 1, 2021): Speakers at a seminar have urged the students of communication studies to read and adopt the journalistic values introduced by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan who upheld truthfulness and bravery in his practice of journalism. They were addressing a seminar organized by Punjab University Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chair and Department of Digital Media at Hameed Nizami Hall here on Wednesday. Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Information Mr Hassan Khawar, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar, senior analyst Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami, Salman Ghani, Sajjad Mir, Chairperson Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Chair and Department of Digital Media Dr Savera Shami, Chairperson Department of Development Communication Dr Ayesha Ashfaq, Chairman Maulana Zafar Ali Khan Trust Mr Khalid Mahmood, faculty members and a large number of students participated in the event.

Addressing the seminar, Mr Hassan Khawar said that Maulana Zafar Ali Khan fought a war of ideology for the Muslims of the subcontinent. He said that we needed to understand the requirements of modern journalism. He said that Maulana Zafar Ali Khan had proved that the power of pen was greater than the power of sword. He said that we needed to think that we were not fighting the war of ideology today. He said that unfortunately we were using the power of the pen not for good purposes. He said that we must learn from the journalistic values introduced by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan. Addressing the seminar, PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad paid a tribute to the services of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and said that the Muslims of the subcontinent had blind faith in the leadership and thoughts of the Maulana. He said that Mr Khan faced sanctions and several threats but did not give up and served the nation. He called upon the need to ensure quality of reporting and analysis. He urged the students to learn high moral values of journalism and practice it in their relevant fields. He appreciated the efforts of Dr Savera Shami for organizing such activities which was not only keeping the message of such great personalities alive but also provide opportunities to the students to interact with professionals and learn practical knowledge of their fields. Senior analyst Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami said that Zameendar was a newspaper of the whole Muslim world. He said that Mr Khan was a great poet and a great and a great editor. He said that Mr Khan had a fearless personality and a man of principles. He said that we needed to associate ourselves with the ideology of Mr Khan. Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar said that Mr Khan had a great skill of expressing the reality and feelings in a balanced manner. He said that the new generation should take him as a role model and adopt reading habits to improve their skills. Senior analyst Mr Salman Ghani, Mr Sajjad Mir, Mr Khalid Mahmood and others also shed life on the life and services of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and stressed the need to compare the practice of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan’s journalism and the way our practitioners were working today. They said there was a dire need of following the line of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and should take journalism as a mission. Dr Savera Shami thanked the guests and the participants and said that the seminar had been organized to apprise the new generation about the services of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan. She said that the students of the department were being provided opportunities through such activities to equip themselves with modern practices and knowledge of the relevant fields and learn from each others’ experiences. Later, souvenirs and books written on Maualana Zafar Ali Khan were presented to the distinguished guests.