Cartoon character: ‘Nanna addressed people’s issues’

LAHORE: “In Pakistan, the tradition of the newspaper cartoon was almost single-handedly carried forward by Anwar Ali in the years following the partition,” said journalist Wajahat Masood. Masood said, “Anwar Ali created an innocent boy, Nanna, who appeared in the English daily, The Pakistan Times.” He said the imposition of martial law in 1958, however, ‘dampened Ali’s ardour.’ Mehmal Sarfaraz, a journalist, said, “The media was censored strictly in Pakistan but hats off to Ali for bravely addressing the issues faced by the masses through his cartoon.” The cartoon was introduced to the participants in a slide show. A number of students, artists, and media professionals were present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2013.