The Presidential Award given to the late Gen Mujeebur Rehman, information secretary of Gen Ziaul Haq, is an insult to all those 400 journalists, peasants, political workers who had given sacrifices during the 1978 journalist movement, led by former PFUJ presidents Minhaj Barna and the late Nisar Usmani.

It is an insult to all those who have struggled in this country for the cause of freedom of the press. It is an insult to those journalists who were jailed, faced military courts, flogged.

Let us bow our head in shame that the PPP government finally rewarded the person who unleashed a reign of terror against the media, planted shameful stories, imposed censorship, closed down newspapers and magazines, and gave the press advices and threats. He is the one responsible for breaking the journalism movement and the community.

I can only speak for my community but General Mujeeb is the man responsible for committing the most immoral act by leaking a radio interview of the most noted poet of the subcontinent Josh Maliaabadi, in a breach of trust that it would only be broadcast after his death. I wonder if President Asif Ali Zardari knows these facts.

Hats off to veteran MNA Yusuf Talpur, lone voice from the PPP, who become emotional during a point of order when he said, “It is really shameful that out government has given an award to the Secretary of Information of General Zia, the man responsible for planting shameful stories against Bhutto, PPP workers,” he said.

What was more shocking is the fact that no one from the PPP joined him in the protest. No wonder it is not the same PPP. It is not the PPP of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

When I sent an SMS to Farhatullah Babar, the president's spokesman, for his reaction, he said, “Unfortunately, it is true but the award recommendation came from Nazaria-i-Pakistan Council. With due respect if our so - called council has this “Nazaria” to recommend award to dictators it should be disbanded with immediate effect.

It seems that the PPP has developed a bad habit of bailing out dictators. First, they gave “Medal for Democracy” to General Aslam Baig in 1988. In 2008, they reconciled with Dictator General Pervaiz Musharraf through the NRO and provided safe exit to him. In 2010, the government awarded General Ziaul Haq by giving an award to his closest crony, the late Gen Mujeeb.

I appeal to the entire journalist community to protest against this award and force the government to withdraw its decision and apologise to the journalist community and political workers who have given sacrifices for the cause of democracy and freedom of expression in this country.

MAZHAR ABBAS
Islamabad