LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Wednesday observed the 25th death anniversary of journalist Nisar Osmani by holding a memorial.

Mr Osmani was known as a progressive journalist, trade unionist and campaigner for democracy. He was one of the founder members of the HRCP.

Also recognised for his fearless criticism of the governments of the day, he was sent behind the bars many times. He worked honestly and with utmost dedication as a journalist and trade unionist during Ayub era of 1960s and also stood up against the dictatorship of Gen Ziaul Haq.

Many of his friends and comrades as well as those who were inspired by his life and works remembered him at the memorial.

The present-day stringent measures by the government to curb media coverage as well as extreme challenges that journalists and workers face today gave a context to what Mr Osmani always fought for.

Tahira Habib who moderated the event gave a biography of Mr Osmani, informing the audience that he moved from Allahabad to Pakistan during the Partition and began his career as a schoolteacher in Bahawalpur. In 1953, his journalistic career began as a stringer for Dawn -- a paper whose Lahore Bureau chief he became when an office was established here. He was elected to the PUJ and PFUJ many times.

However, it was his image as a journalist leader that he is still remembered today, she said. “As a trade unionist he stood up against the military dictatorship of Ayub and Zia but he also questioned Z.A. Bhutto’s policies. In fact, he challenged all the governments that he lived through and never bowed down to anything he did not agree with,” she said.

Veteran journalist Husain Naqi (HRCP founder member) said Mr Osmani was an ideal source of inspiration for everyone. “He defended journalists and workers alike and suffered for it too but he never mentioned his sufferings,” recalled Mr Naqi. He said the late journalist spent time behind the bars and even remained unemployed for long but he never lost hope.

“He always kept his professional ethics in line when doing journalism and I have seen this with my own eyes. I have seen how much support he garnered because of his professionalism,” said Mr Naqi.

He said those were difficult times, especially the regimes of Ayub and Zia. He (Osmani) held strikes against the Press and Publications Ordinance and everyone followed him. Strikes were most difficult to hold in Punjab.

“The PFUJ was kept alive by him despite govt crackdowns and clash of the left and right within the journalistic fraternity, however he did not discriminate against them. It was journalists like Mr Osmani, Minhaj Barna and KG Mustafa who fought for ‘azadi-i-sahafat’ and also protected it.”

Advocate Nadeem Fazil Ayaz recounted memories of the lighter side of his life especially his friendship with I.A. Rehman.

“He (Mr Osmani) was frank and open towards new people,” he said. “I learnt affection and respect for elders from him, and this has made me realise we must talk about the important people in our country’s history. They should be kept alive through sketches and write-ups so that others are also inspired by them,” he suggested.

I. A. Rehman, honorary spokesperson for the HRCP, said Mr Osmani was a self-made man and his contribution to journalism was invaluable.

“He fought a legal case for the declaration of a newspaper which resulted in an amendment to the law,” said Mr Rehman.

“He had a nose for news. He was a fearless campaigner for the rights of journalists, labourers, human rights in general and democracy,” said Mr Rehman.

Reminiscing the days of his friendship with Mr Osmani, the HRCP founder member said he (Osmani) was “the voice of the voiceless” and his involvement with trade unions was always underpinned by moral values.

A worker in the HRCP mentioned his interaction with Mr Osmani and said peons and workers in the press followed him in dire times.

Among the speakers was HRCP Secretary-General Harris Khalique who recalled Mr Osmani’s courage as a journalist, labour rights activist and newspaper union leader during the Ayub Khan, Bhutto and Ziaul Haq regimes.

Dr Mehdi Hasan also spoke about his meetings with Mr Osmani first as a student and then a professional journalist. “Sadly the era of journalism has ended,” he said.

“There are no journalists like Mr Nisar Osmani and even the narratives have changed. There are no teachers today like there used to be either,” he deplored.

He also concurred with Nadeem Fazil asking why we as a nation pay accolades to the people who are alive and why do we wait till someone passes away so we can talk about him or her.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2019