Jurat-i-Inkaar
Compiled by Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed
Institute of Historical & Social Research
ISBN: 978-969-7985-47-0
184pp,

The book Jurat-i-Inkaar is not a historical account of a journalist’s life but a history of over 60 years of journalism and democracy in this country, which has witnessed its ups and downs. The storyteller, senior journalist Hussain Naqi, explains the reasons behind each incident he recounts, leading to why this nation failed to reach the target of becoming a democratic welfare state.

Before highlighting some interesting contents of this book, it would be better to first introduce its publisher and Mr Naqi’s interlocutor. An author of 30 books in Urdu and English, Prof Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed served as a researcher and director of the Pakistan Study Centre at the University of Karachi for a number of years. Currently, he is the director of the Karachi-based Institute of Historical and Social Research (IHSR). Prof Jaffar Ahmed is a highly respected researcher and writer. His knowledge is reflected in the kind of questions he asks, which makes this book more important.

The book is a detailed interview of the highly-respected Naqi, who has remained active in the field of journalism since the 1960s. Prof Jaffar Ahmed succeeds in extracting maximum information from the journalist to offer to the reader while creating additional interest by asking him questions that can explain the political history of Pakistan and its struggling democracy, as seen through the lens of journalism.

Naqi migrated from Lucknow after the creation of Pakistan and settled in Karachi. While revealing many unknown facts during this interview, he discloses that the grandsons and great-grandsons of the famous poet Meer Anees also migrated to Pakistan. The book is a treasure trove for readers interested in knowing how democracy and journalism fought to remain alive despite the rigorous regimes of dictators who ruled this country most of its time.

Senior journalist and rights activist Hussain Naqi’s detailed interview in a newly published book is a story of journalism and democracy in Pakistan from his perspective

On the personal front, it is interesting to discover from Naqi that he got admission in the chemistry department of the D.J. Science College with the help of a teacher who had also migrated from Aligarh. Naqi says that many fellows asked him in 1955 if he had “sources” in the army, navy or the air force, in order to gain commission in them. It shows that the armed forces were dominant in the newly born country even before the first martial law was imposed in 1958. As for his student life in Pakistan, it was full of activities that caused trouble for him and he was rusticated from the university, though he also earned popularity among the students.

Naqi was very close to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and he says that, while he was trying to convince him to hand over power to Sheikh Mujeeb after the general elections in 1970, Dr Mubashir Hasan, a close ally of Bhutto, informed him that Bhutto was going somewhere in an army helicopter. Naqi says that it became clear to him then that Bhutto and the army were collaborating and that Bhutto was not ready to transfer power to Mujeeb.

Naqi also recalls asking the famous journalist Z.A. Suleri why, despite being a combative journalist at one time, he had surrendered his cause. Suleri replied: “I understood Pakistan and I changed myself. I am [now] with Mr Bhutto and, before that, I was with Gen Ayub Khan and the previous rulers.” For Naqi, this was indicative that the rot had set in a long time ago.

While criticising newspaper owners, Naqi says that most newspaper owners were simply interested in making money after the creation of Pakistan. This was the reason that professional editors were not appreciated and often replaced. The owners became editors and editors-in-chief of their newspapers, even though they themselves were not able to write a correct sentence.

He also sheds light on the deterioration in journalism, particularly after the emergence of electronic media. He observes that anchor persons get huge salaries, which they earn through their programme ratings and commissions rather than because of their journalism. He is disappointed about the depletion of newspapers. Meanwhile, the electronic media is unable to fulfill its duty. The prime responsibility of the media is to pass on the truth to the general public and this is how democracy as well as journalism can flourish.

Naqi is of the firm opinion that both democracy and journalism are facing the worst kind of oppression in this country. Those who grabbed power in the truncated Pakistan remaining after 1971 were never in favour of democracy — according to him, they hanged their “friend”, Z.A. Bhutto, and most of his family was also killed. And they brought their favourite servants to power to loot resources.

Naqi feels that, at the end of his career and life now, it depends upon the new generation whether they manage to change this situation of the country’s politics in favour of democracy. He says he is glad that he kept struggling for the establishment of the welfare state. Even though he did not succeed, he is happy he participated in the cause at least. He was rusticated from college, jailed as a journalist, often found himself without a job and saw the closing down of the newspapers that he worked for, but none of these things dimmed his enthusiasm for the cause he espoused.

In the conclusion of the book, seven thought-provoking columns of Naqi have been included. These columns were penned in different periods and exhibit his political insight and willingness to spend his life in the fight for democracy and true journalism.

The book is a gift for all those interested in knowing their country through the eyes of a veteran journalist, an honest person with a clear mission. Unfortunately, book reading has not been a hobby of this nation. The new generation is only interested in achieving economic success without wanting to gain any knowledge of how to fight for their rights. It seems least interested in the past. Most politicians, too, don’t have time to read books.

But journalists must read books. This book is recommended for all journalists who still believe in democracy.

The reviewer is a member of staff

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, May 11th, 2025