Message for On Line News Paper Zeeshan News Abudhabi.
Dear Mr. Tariq Hussain Butt,
Chief Editor,
The Zeeshan Abudhabi.
I hope all is well with you. You have asked me for message
for your up coming On Line News Paper Zeeshan. I have been
reading your columns on various subjects which show your
interest in the political, social, literary and academic
matters. I have found your writings very strong and full of
commitment for human and democratic norms. I appreciate the
conviction of the writers like you who boldly reveal the
truth and keep the people abreast with the real facts. This
is a prophetic mission. The majority of our columnists and
TV anchorpersons is partisan. They hide the truth for their
petty worldly gains. It is an intellectual dishonesty and is
tantamount to crime. The term yellow journalism is used for
such persons. So many writers, clerics, politicians,
journalists and the TV anchorpersons are on the pay list of
the Intelligence agencies and the moneyed politicians. It is
a human and national tragedy. We need soothsayers in this
sacred profession who can foretell the people about the on
coming events and guide them to the right direction. But
alas, we have people with sordid mentality. I salute those
who crusade against the oppressors dictators and the
predators and light the candle of truth in the dark desert
of dismay. They are great and we owe much to them.
It will be really great national service that a writer of
your caliber has decided to launch a news paper. We
Pakistanis must promote Urdu in the foreign lands so
that our kids must not become rootless. In alien lands we
are like flowers in glazed earthen jars. We do not have
roots. Our younger generation must know that we
are Pakistanis and we should feel proud of that. The
writers, the journalists and even a common Pakistani is an
ambassador of Pakistan. As you told me on phone that your
News Paper Zeeshan will be bi-lingual, I deem it the dire
need of the time. Besides Urdu your intention to include
English writings in it is a laudable plan. English is not
only an international language but is also the language of
science, technology and higher learning. I have been a
staunch supporter of this language for our countrymen. It
broadens the mind and polishes the personality. I admire the
educational policy of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan who asked the
Muslims of the Sub-continent to learn English to compete
others. He was very right. The narrow minded clergy opposed
his policies and regarded him a heretic. Even today our
short sighted clerics issue decrees against learning the
English language while all the ruling and elite classes of
the Arabs join the American and British universities to
learn English. Our great visionary political leaders such as
Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto were educated in the prestigious universities
of USA and UK. This was the reason they developed the sense
of democracy, justice, moderation, modernity and human
rights.
I humbly suggest that in the English section if the
Pakistani literary, academic, social and political
personalities are introduced to the English speaking strata
of Abudhabi, it will be a great national service. Besides,
the propaganda against Pakistan by our enemies can be
countered by the writings of our patriots. As you have
kindly asked me to write in your News Paper, I would love to
contribute in it.
I solemnly pray for the success of your News Paper and hope
you will achieve your noble and national goals.
Sincerely yours,
Dr.Maqsood Jafri
New York
June 17,2010