Zubair Qureshi
Senior journalists, former colleagues and co-workers at a reference paid glowing tributes to veteran journalist, writer, editor and columnist Mumtaz Liaqat who passed away recently (July 2, 2023) and termed his death an irreparable loss for the journalists community of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Wherever he worked and whichever assignment he undertook, he did complete justice to that, they said. During his illustrious career, Mumtaz Liaqat worked in several newspapers and magazines. He filed reports, wrote articles and columns for them. For instance, he worked as Magazine Editor of the Nawai Waqt, Editor of Weekly Hurmat, Reporter in Kohistan and columnist and article writer in Chitaan.
Pakistan’s Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) (Dastoor) had organized the reference at the National Press Club that was presided over by Mumtaz Liaqat’s former colleague and long-time companion Haji Nawaz Raza. Those who spoken on the occasion and highlighted his qualities of head and heart included Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer Faisal Zahid Malik, former Chief News Editor (CNE) of the Nawa-i-Waqt, Basharat Ali Syed, son of Hakim Sarw Saharanpuri, Mahmood Saharanpuri, common friend of late Zahid Malik and Mumtaz Liaqat, Zafar Hijazi, former News Editor of Nawa-e-Waqt Javed Siddique, veteran writer, journalist Sahar Siddiqui, Mohsin Raza, Dr Sadia Kamal, Sajjad Azhar, Wajih Siddiqui, Bashir Sultan, Mr Qurban, Adil Shah and many younger journalists who chanced to work and get inspiration from Mumtaz Liaqat.
The speakers described him as a role model for the younger lot of journalists. “He always upheld Pakistan and the Ideology of Pakistan in his writings,” said Nawaz Raza, the host of the event.
Faisal Zahid Malik called Mumtaz Liaqat’s death a personal loss for him as Mumtaz Liaqat was a close associate and friend of his late father, founder Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer, Zahid Malik.
“When my father started the Humat Group of Publications, Mumtaz Liaqat was among the first members of the founding team,” he said. His role in the success of Hurmat cannot be denied, said Faisal Malik.
Mumtaz Liaqat was a prolific writer and wrote several books to stress the Ideology of Islam and its past glory. One such book was written on ‘Baitul Muqaddas’ the other recent work is on Seerat-un-Nabi (SAW) and according to Basharat Syed, Mumtaz Liaqat’s former colleague, the book will be published posthumously.
Zafar Hijazi while paying tributes to Mumtaz Liaqat remembered him as a book-loving man who spent much of his time in reading and writing. His books are well read and he was considered a thorough professional journalist, said Mr Hijazi.
Mohsin Raza also spoke about the multi-dimensional personality of Mumtaz Liaqat and regretted that it was not easy for a working journalist to live respectably under current circumstances. He also referred to the dying tradition of reading among journalists. “Though this reference is taking place in the Press Club’s library, I am doubtful if any member of the press club has ever bothered to see which books are lying in the cupboards here,” he said.
Sahar Siddiqui discussed in detail various phases in the journalistic career of Mumtaz Liaqat and recounted how Mumtaz Liaqat through Hurmat and Chitaan gave voice to the people and drew the attention of the rules of the day towards public issues.
Basharat Ali Syed said Mumtaz Liaqat belonged to the tribe that undertook journalism as a mission. He was member of the editorial board in Agha Shorish Kashmiri’s Chitaan and successfully brought out the paper when Shorish was imprisoned. Likewise, when Zahid Malik was arrested in late Benazir Bhutto’s second tenure for ‘making public sensitive nuclear secrets’ Mumtaz Liaqat came forward to write in support of Zahid Malik. Adil Shah called Mumtaz Liaqat a humble man who was always ready to help others. Later, a collective Dua-e-Maghfrat was offered for the departed soul of Mumtaz Liaqat.
