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Hamid Nizami remembered

Lahore declaration

damaged Kashmir

issue centrality: JJ

LAHORE: The Adviser to the Chief Executive on Media, Javed Jabbar, on Sunday said Lahore Declaration damaged "centrality" of the Kashmir issue, and pledged that the present set-up, headed by General Pervez Musharraf, has eliminated all confusion about it.

Speaking on 38th death anniversary of Hamid Nizami at Al-Hamra Centre here, he recalled that the present government's policy on Kashmir issue was backed by the nation's will during the last 53 years.

He reiterated that the signing on the dotted line of CTBT would also be done after evolving a national consensus.

"The electronic media conducted an exhaustive debate on the issue for the nation to make a decision with their full participation", Jabbar added.

He said the nation will soon witness radical steps to be taken by the present government. It would allow establishment of wire and voice media in the private sector to invite open discussion on any issue of public importance.

A large number of people representing various strata of society, including students, politicians, journalists and some Lahore-based diplomats also attended the ceremony.

Paying tributes to the journalistic services of late Hameed Nazami, the founder of Daily Nawai-e-Waqt, the media adviser pointed out that the late Nizami devoted his life to the cause of independent journalism and freedom of expression in society.

He said that Hameed Nizami was a staunch and a real Pakistani who adhered to his principles and remained affiliated with the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) till his death in 1962.

"Younger generation can learn a lot from Hameed Nizami in upholding the banner of truth and straight-forwardness," Javed said.

Javed Jabbar said the present government "places journalism in highest esteem and respects its basic objectives and firmly believes in the freedom of press".

He said the press should serve as guiding light to the government, helping it to resolve problems of the masses.

Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider said people loved Hamid Nizami due to his outstanding qualities and character besides being champion of the freedom of expression and the national ideology.

He said Hamid Nizami firmly stood for a responsible press, and added that younger generations must emulate golden principles set forth by him.

INDIAN ATTACK CONDEMNED

Condemning brutal and cowardly commando action by the Indian troops at a village in Azad Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in the killing of 14 innocent citizens including some children, the interior minister said after meeting a humiliating defeat in Kargil, India wanted to become a mini-super power in the region.

He said the cowardly act speaks of gross violation of all human norms.

The minister said India must give up wishful thinking and warned it would find the valiant Pakistan army and entire nation ever-ready to meet any aggression with full might.

He called upon the various segments of the society for broader co-operation and fostering unity in their ranks to thwart evil designs of the enemy.

Referring to country's financial position, the interior minister said that the nation must adopt austerity and simplicity to pay off loans of 70 billion dollars so that the country could be rescued from the clutches of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said he firmly believed in returning to the rule of democracy in the long run, and added that efforts were being made to put the country on the path to real and lasting democracy which should not collapse after every two years.

The Chief Editor of 'Nawai-e-Waqt' and 'The Nation', Majeed Nizami, lauded the statement of Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, for declaring Pakistan and Kashmir as correlative.

Majeed strongly criticised Nawaz Sharif for his policies on Kargil. He also criticised Benazir for her statement favouring joint currency and opening borders with India.

Nizami said he firmly believed and supported the Muslim League of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said that his newspaper would continue its mission for the establishment of real Islamic welfare state, democracy and for the freedom of expression in the society.

Naib Amir Jamaat Islami Pakistan Munawar Hassan criticised the previous government for signing Lahore-Declaration.

A former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Syed Nasim Hassan Shah, Justice Javed Iqbal, former Pakistan's Ambassador to Norway and columnist Ataul Haq Qasmi, ANP leader Ajmal Khattak, PML leader Ejaz-ul-Haq, PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan and Resident Editor Nawai-e-Waqt Karachi Sajjad Mir also addressed the ceremony.ÑAPP