In memoriam: Tribute paid to deceased journalists

Reference held for Asad Sahi, Hamid Javed, Usman Malik and Moin Ahmed.

LAHORE: Veteran journalist Amjad Warraich said on Tuesday that journalists had to grapple with immense workloads.

He was speaking at a memorial reference for late journalists Asad Sahi, Hamid Javed, Usman Malik and Moin Ahmed. Warraich said one ought to think why they had died so young.

He said this was because journalists tended to be subjected to immense pressure. Warraich said owners of media houses should think about facilitating their employees as that would lead to a marked change in working conditions.

Lahore Press Club president Arshad Ansari said television channels were always vying for being the first outlet to carry breaking news and running tickers. He said electronic media journalists remained stressed and occupied around-the-clock. Ansari said the club had taken several initiatives for the benefit of members including health and life insurance. He said news organisations should also think about doing the same.

Daily Express chief reporter Chaudhry Khalid Qayyum said Sahi had been a very hardworking journalist.

He said that he used to work as an electronic media journalist even before the medium had taken-off in the nation.

Qayyum said he had very credible sources, which was a great asset for any journalist.

Veteran journalist Kazim Khan said Sahi was very supportive of budding journalists. Khan said he had always helped them learn new things.

Government College University Vice Chancellor Khaleequr Rehman said people often accused the media of spreading negativity but he was delighted to see young journalists honour the memory of their deceased seniors. Hasnain and Auon Sahi, Sahi’s father and brother, thanked those present on the occasion.

Speakers at reference remembered their colleagues and stressed the need to rationalise journalists’ working hours. They said journalists’ poor working conditions could be blamed for several untimely deaths.

The reference was organised by the Education Reporters Association in collaboration with the GCU.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2015.