ISLAMABAD: On the eighth death anniversary of Minhaj Barna, a documentary was screened at the National Press Club (NPC) highlighting his life and struggle against the martial law regime of Ziaul Haq and for democracy and freedom of the press.

The documentary would be played in the press clubs across Pakistan. It contains testimonials of veteran journalists and those who struggled for restoration of democracy during the martial law, including Nasir Zaidi and Iqbal Jafri, who were also canned as punishments by the martial law regime.

Mr Barna not only led a journalists’ movement against the policies of Gen Zia but was also a union and pro-democracy activist at that time. At one time he led a 10-day strike against low wages during which no newspaper could be published.

He also led a hunger strike when Musawat, the mouthpiece of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), was closed down by the regime.

According to the documentary, after migrating from Delhi the Barna family settled in Quetta where Minhaj Mohammad Khan started his career from Imroze and later joined Pakistan Times.

As a poet, he chose the penname of Balochi word Barna, which means a young man. The book of his revolutionary poetry was published with the title of Marsia: Chouthay Satoon Ka. He passed away in Rawalpindi at the age of 87 on Jan 14, 2011.

The film has been produced by Riaz Aajiz, who has also produced a documentary on the life of Asma Jahangir, scheduled to be played on Feb 11, her death anniversary.

“It is unfortunate that none of the TV channels agreed to air the documentary despite the fact that almost all media outlets owed their freedom to the struggle launched by Barna sahib,” Mr Aajiz said.

There is no commercial aspect in making these films and Mr Aajiz is currently working on a documentary on the life of legendry revolutionary poet Habib Jalib.

The participants, including journalists and politicians, members of civil society and his daughter Afshan Minhaj, expressed gratitude to the film producers and the press club saying the film would prove to be an encouragement for the young journalists to continue the struggle for the freedom of the media.

Other speakers said Minhaj Barna commanded respect as the founder of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the All-Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation.

He played a key role in the early 1970s in establishing a viable wage structure for newspaper employees and he should be considered a legend in the media industry of the country.

Veteran journalists Mohammad Ziauddin, C. R. Shamsi and former senator Farhatullah Babar also spoke.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2019