Oxford University Press (OUP) on Tuesday launched Stop Press: A Life in Journalism, the memoirs of one of Pakistan's best known journalists, Inam Aziz. This account of his life in journalism was originally written in Urdu and has been translated into English by Khalid Hasan.
Speaking on the occasion Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan I.A Rehman said that Inam Aziz chose the title 'Stop Press' to underscore the attempts by governments to prevent journalists from printing the truth, particularly in countries where illegitimate regimes and military coups are the norm.
Rehman said that Aziz described his autobiography as 'a piece of reportage to show what different and interesting experiences anyone wishing to be associated with the profession of journalism in a developing country has to pass through'. His long career in journalism began soon after Independence and remained his passion and his abiding commitment throughout his life.
Rehman also said that during the dark days of General Ziaul Haq's rule Inam Aziz's Urdu daily "Millat" was the lone voice of dissent at home and abroad. He occupies a place of honour in the history of Pakistani journalism for his life-long opposition to military rule and his struggle for the establishment of representative government.
Head, School of Media and Mass Communication, Beacon house National University Dr Mehdi Hasan gave the reference of Aziz's book in which he wrote that government's secretary general of that time Chaudhry Muhammad Ali censored the Quaid-e-Azam's speech of 11 August 1948.
Imtiaz Aziz, son of Inam Aziz said, while lauding the journalistic contributions of Inam Aziz that he always believed no matter how stringent the restriction governments impose on the media they never succeed in silencing the voices of protest.
Earlier, Managing Director Oxford University Press Ameena Saiyid, said that the book provides an insight into journalism in Pakistan and the pressures faced by journalists. She also added that it is an excellent account of the politics of this country from 1947 until the early 1990s. The launch ceremony was well attended by bureaucrats, academics, literary critics, journalists, and media people.