KARACHI, June 16: The life and works of the well-known journalist and author Zamir Niazi were highlighted at a condolence reference held at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

Prominent personalities paid glowing tributes to the late Zamir Niazi at the event organized jointly by the Karachi Union of Journalists and the Karachi Press Club.

On the occasion, the speakers stressed the need to complete as soon as possible the unfinished works of the late Zamir Niazi. Several of the speakers described Mr Niazi as a "conscience of journalism" because he chronicled every attack on the journalists and their freedom as faithfully as he could.

One of the speakers pointed out that it would be very difficult to fill Mr Niazi's shoes, one of the reasons being that journalists, media owners and the authorities alike regularly made compromises in their day-to-day affairs. Nevertheless, his mission should be carried forward.

Mr Niazi's books not only made some media owners very angry but also irritated some government functionaries and journalists because he was unforgiving in his comments and analyses, said the speakers.

He carried out his research work meticulously and was as impartial as any human being could when describing historic facts, according to the speakers. A speaker said even though Mr Niazi took his work as a journalist and author very seriously, yet he had a humorous and pleasant side to his personality too. He inspired not only his colleagues but also his family members.

Each day he read the newspapers thoroughly and was often the first one to comment on whatever may have pleased or saddened him. A speaker said it was unfortunate that the community of journalists had not benefited as much as it could from Mr Niazi's views and his experiences during his lifetime.

One of the speakers stated that journalism was one of those rare professions in the country which had produced several role models such as Razia Bhatti and Zamir Niazi. Mr Niazi, he said, had breathed his last but his memories and works would live on.

A speaker offered to donate Rs50,000 so that the unfinished books of Zamir Niazi could be published. Several other speakers said they were ready to do their best in this regard.

The people who spoke on the occasion included: Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, Sultan Ahmed, Ardeshir Cowasjee, Hameed Haroon, Ameena Saiyid, Hussein Naqi, Babar Ayaz, Wahid Bashir, Latif Jafri, Ahfazur Rahman, Rais Ashraf Tar Mohammad, Abdul Hameed Chhapra, Maryam Arif, Mazhar Abbas, Khurshid Abbasi and Nizamuddin Siddiqui. I.A. Rehman's message was also read out.