PFUJ Platinum Jubilee: Karachi Mayor Highlights Journalists’ Sacrifices and Contributions

  By: Aziz Khatri

Karachi: Mayor of Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, emphasized the crucial role that journalists and their organizations have played in promoting freedom of expression. He announced plans to erect a monument at Khaliq Dina Hall to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). This monument aims to educate future generations about the sacrifices and contributions of the journalist community to democracy and freedom of expression, alongside the leaders of the Pakistan Movement.

These remarks were made during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the monument, which was attended by PFUJ officials and a large gathering of journalists. Notable attendees included PFUJ President Tahir Hasan, General Secretary Sardar Liaqat Kashmiri, and senior journalists such as Habib Khan Ghori, Mazhar Abbas, Ayub Jan Sarhandi, Imtiaz Ahmed Farhan, Nawab Qureshi, Nematullah Bukhari, Noshaba Siddiqui, Farah Awan, Liaqat Mughal, Nasser Hussain, and many others.

Mayor Wahab reiterated his commitment to the journalist community, stating that although he is a political worker, he has a deep connection to journalism through his family background. He pledged to fund the monument personally and to utilize Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) resources if expenses exceeded his contribution.

He remarked on the significant role that journalists play in supporting democracy and freedom of expression, urging a collective effort to build a better Karachi for future generations. He identified journalism as the fourth pillar of the state and called for an end to despair and hopelessness, encouraging continued advocacy through the power of the pen. He highlighted the essential role of journalists in societal reform and promised that the PFUJ Platinum Jubilee Monument would be constructed with grandeur.

Furthermore, the mayor acknowledged the importance of newspapers, TV channels, and social media in mass communication. He assured that the issues faced by the journalist community would be prioritized by KMC. He mentioned that local leadership and journalists share a close relationship, as media outlets effectively highlight urban issues and KMC works to address them promptly.

He added that the journalist community has consistently played a positive role in both the Pakistan Movement and the nation’s subsequent development, promising this collaboration would continue in the future. Mayor Wahab noted his family’s history in journalism, recalling that his father, Wahab Siddiqui, dedicated his life to the field, while his mother served on the KMC council, specifically focusing on media-related initiatives.

PFUJ President Tahir Hasan welcomed the mayor at the ceremony and expressed gratitude for his full support in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. During the event, PFUJ presented a commemorative shield to Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab in recognition of his contributions.