‘MA Zuberi saheb enjoyed a long and successful innings’

Two months after the passing away of the renowned journalist, a reference is held at the Karachi Press Club.

KARACHI: Two months after his passing, sons and colleagues of MA Zuberi held a reference at the Karachi Press Club for the renowned journalist.

Speaking on the occasion, his eldest son, Wamiq Zuberi said his father held three professions during the course of his life. First, he was part of the armed forces during World War II. Following that he became a journalist from 1945 till 1963, when he retired from Dawn. Finally, it wasn’t until 1965 that he launched his own newspaper, the Business Recorder. “But the journalist always overpowered the position of being a newspaper owner,” he said. Calling his father a “journalist, teacher, father and hero”, Wamiq said he was proud and happy that “Zuberi saheb enjoyed a long and successful innings.”

Also present was former colleague Omar Latif. “I truly believe the secret to MA Zuberi’s immense success was in the confidence he showed in people and helped them do more and do better,” he said. “Never can I recall a time that he stopped from going to press an editorial that was truthfully written. In fact, when the authorities came to question the writer he always stood in the way, saying the paper was his responsibility and he was answerable for all inquiries. This kind of freedom is truly rare.”

Zuberi’s other son Arshad said his father was a staunch believer in the profession of journalism which is why he always differentiated between journalists and others who worked in the industry, including administration and people from marketing, etc. In reference to a remark made on the significant number of layoffs by the organisation, he said, “When one demands rights and better conditions for journalists they must speak for themselves and not the organisation at large because there is a difference. Journalists are professionals who represent society in order to provide them with the truth without any vested interest.”

Carrying Zuberi’s legacy forward is also his youngest son, Asif, presently in charge of a private news channel. He spoke on his father’s integrity and steadfast attitude towards his profession. “For as long as he could physically manage, my father would come to office sit and involve himself in the issues, he always considered himself a journalist first and then perhaps the owner.”

Senior journalist Sarfaraz Ahmed said the late Zuberi’s biggest contribution to the profession was economic and financial journalism. “He began specialising in this field at a time when no one was really paying attention to it,” he said. “...learning how budgets were prepared, how resources were allocated so people were aware of what was going on in the economic side of matters.” He was a pioneer in that sense as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2011.