KARACHI: Friends, colleagues and admirers went down memory lane to recall the life and work of journalist Siddiq Baloch at a seminar titled ‘Freedom of expression’ held on his third death anniversary at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Saturday evening.

The programme began with two short videos on Mr Baloch’s career. After which the first speaker of the evening Maqsood Yousufi addressed the audience. He said the videos for him had refreshed memories of the late journalist. He [Yousufi] is one of those who had learned a lot from him. Mr Baloch was an efficient man. He would never limit the wisdom and information that he had to himself; he would convey it to others.

During the course of his professional career, he went to jail. He taught his juniors how to deal with the police and elicit information from them. Although Mr Baloch and he had ideological differences (soch mein farq tha) he never let that come in the way of their association. Mr Yousufi added he got to learn freedom of expression from two media men: Sabihuddin Ghausi and Siddiq Baloch.

Dr Jabbar Khattak said he had known Mr Baloch from the days when he was a student. He was an attractive (pur kashish) man from Lyari. Despite being senior to him and some others, he would never feel odd to mingle with them. He would commute from home to office by bicycle. Even when he needed to attend an important official briefing or meeting, he would, wearing a suit, go there on his bicycle. He didn’t get a motorcycle until his juniors one day hid his bicycle. Also, whenever there would be at a meeting of editors or a delegation of journalists would be required to visit a place, he would never try and make himself prominent. He was a self-effacing individual.

Mr Khattak said when Mr Baloch went to Balochistan to do journalism there he suffered quite a few hardships. But he first came out with the newspaper Balochistan Express and then Azadi. Mr Khattak argued that the rulers of this country had used the media to serve their cause. “Negative journalism is one which contains hate speech. It’s hate speech that divides people. There should be the right to disagree but not the right to hate.”

Wusat Ullah Khan said we are simpletons who believe that someone gives freedom [of expression] to us. In the 7,000-year history, any form of freedom that’s been achieved is snatched (chheeni gai hai). Today, we can speak.

Mr Khan said we should learn from Mr Baloch and his generation how to get a bit of space and then transfer it to the next generation. During Ziaul Haq’s rule, banners would be placed outside the press club. Today, the banners face the club. Mr Baloch taught journalists how to survive in difficult circumstances and create space for yourself.

Anwar Sajidi said he and Mr Baloch belonged to two different camps but they always had mutual respect.

Mazhar Abbas and Fazil Jamili (KPC president) were also listed to speak. Prof Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan conducted the event. He in his introductory speech said Mr Baloch was a member of the NSF. He began his struggle from the University of Karachi and continued till the time of military dictatorship.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021