ISLAMABAD: Leaders of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Tuesday paid tribute to the late Nisar Osmani, one of the country’s most brilliant journalists, for his meritorious struggle for freedom of the press and expression.

At an event, the union members said Mr Osmani’s services would never be forgotten.

“Nisar Osmani was a man of principle with an unrelenting passion for press freedom and the rights of the marginalised segments of society,” the PFUJ members said.

“He was a beacon of light for the entire community, never surrendering, even during the darkest times, including the dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq.”.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari, while recounting Mr Osmani’s services and unwavering struggle for the cause of journalism, journalists’ rights and press freedom, said they would follow in the footsteps of Mr Osmani and uphold the standards of journalism and media freedom.

“We are duty-bound to safeguard those standards,” they pledged.

Mr Osmani joined Dawn as a stringer in 1953 and become the bureau chief when the newspaper established its Lahore bureau.

He retired in 1991, but remained associated with the newspaper as a special correspondent.

A renowned progressive journalist and trade unionist, Mr Osmani emerged during the era of former military dictator Ayub Khan (1960s).

He held various offices, including president of the Punjab Union of Journalists and PFUJ.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024