CPNE holds condolence reference for Arif Nizami

LAHORE:

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on Friday held a condolence reference in the memory of eminent journalist, editor and CPNE President Arif Nizami.

Prominent editors of the country's newspapers, intellectuals and close associates of late Nizami were in attendance.

On the occasion, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said that he (Nizami) used to consider journalism worship.

“Emphasis on parliamentary democracy was the hallmark of Arif Nizami,” Sarwar said. “With his death, Pakistan has lost a proud son. Arif Nizami was rightly Pakistan's top journalist and analyst. His father was his ideal person. I feel like news was looking for him.”

Addressing the function, the Punjab governor said that when Nizami announced the marriage of Prime Minister Imran Khan, a call came from Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain asking was the news true. “I said if Arif Nizami had given it, he would have done the research and reported it. Talk to him.”

He said that Nizami was a true investigative journalist.

“I am proud to have known him for 17-18 years. We first met him in the UK. We feel for his wife and children.”

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, the central leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, while addressing the condolence reference, said: “The passing away of Arif Nizami is a personal loss for me. It seems like a vacuum.”

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In the 70's, when “I was appointed as the provincial information minister, I was introduced to the journalists of Punjab. In the evening, I used to go to Arif Nizami's office.”

“Arif Nizami reported in various fields, he said, adding that the first newspaper that was printed blank was Nawa-e-Waqt and this ideology was of Nawa-e-Waqt. Whenever important news was stopped, he would leave it blank and this was a feature of Arif Nizami's professionalism.”

Arif Nizami used to speak harshly in a sweet speech and soft tone, he said, adding that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's grievances were also met with harsh questions.

“He wore very nice clothes. He was a fearless man, never afraid. All my life my father knew Nawa-e-Waqt as Hameed Nizami's newspaper.

“Arif Nizami never left the line of literature and manners. Never compromised on any principle.”

At the end of the programme, Fateha and prayers were offered for the late Arif Nizami.