Highlights:
- Irfan Siddqui & Majeed Niazmi (late) are my teachers in field of journalism: Sardar Khan Niazi
- I am a fan of Sardar Khan Niazi: Sarmad Ali
- Sardar Khan Niazi formulated and implemented a code of conduct even before the government: Irfan Siddiqui
- Daily The Patriot has established its name in history: Lt Gen (R) Amjad Shoaib
- Sardar Khan Niazi is a brother to me; I truly respect two people from Niazi tribe, Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi and Sardar Khan Niazi: Captain (R) Safdar
ISLAMABAD: The 16th anniversary celebrations of Daily The Patriot were held on Monday. Adviser to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s lawmaker Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar, All Pakistan Newspapers Society President Sarmad Ali, analyst of Roze News program Defense Matters Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib and head of Al-Harmain Pakistan Pvt Ltd, Ch Mushahid Raza were the chief guests on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar said that I regard Editor in Chief Pakistan Group of Newspapers and Chairman Roze News, Sardar Khan Niazi as my brother. He said that I truly respect two people of the Niazi tribe, Maulana Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi and Sardar Khan Niazi. Captain (R) Safdar paid glowing tribute to Sardar Khan Niazi for his services to the field of journalism. He said that Sardar Khan Niazi has achieved this success after years of hard work. The lawmaker said that the patriotism of Sardar Khan Niazi can be gauged by the name newspapers published under the editorship of Sardar Khan Niazi, Daily Pakistan named after our beloved country and Daily The Patriot that portrays the patriotism of Sardar Khan Niazi.
He added that he is a fond reader of the books and columns written by Sardar Khan Niazi and takes inspiration from them. He said that Sardar Khan Niazi instead of using media as a tool for blackmailing which is a norm these days adopted it as a mission and carried the legacy of Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar. He said that the two personalities were the founders of Pakistan movement and today Sardar Khan Niazi is fighting the war for Pakistan’s prosperity and Islam’s glory. Captain (R) Safdar further said that in today’s world people have lost touch with writing but Sardar Khan Niazi is using the power of pen for betterment in the country. Speaking about the current trends in the media industry he said that today electronic media is propagating vulgarity and immorality and women are presented as ‘showpieces’ in television advertisements. He said that today we need a Nasim Hijazi.
Captain (R) Safdar said that I come to Roze News from time to time and people belonging from other channels often complain that you only appear on Roze. ‘Roze is Roze and other channels cannot be compared with it,’ is my reply to such people added Captain (R) Safdar. He concluded by saying that although today we are celebrating the 16th anniversary of Daily The Patriot but I hope and believe that Insha’Allah the newspaper will also celebrate its 116th anniversary.
Adviser to Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui speaking on the occasion said that I am very happy to be the part of this celebration. He said that Sardar Khan Niazi has always upheld the traditions of journalism. He said that in today’s world the field is losing its identity. Irfan Siddiqui reminded the audience that during the Pakistan movement it was the journalists who faced prison terms at the hand of British not the politicians.
He said that today we are in need of Zarb-e-Qalam. Irfan Siddiqui emphasizing the importance of print media said that today electronic media is making a lot of money and more and more new channels are appearing on screen but the value of print journalism still holds its own. Irfan Siddiqui said that the government worked for more than two years to formulate a code of conduct for media but Sardar Khan Niazi formulated and implemented a code of conduct for his media house before us.
Siddiqui lamented that today the quality of content on electronic media is very poor and very few programs are watchable. He said that a lot of anchors on electronic media have lost the trust of the audience due to non-objective reporting.
Emphasizing the need to improve the quality of content Siddiqui said that today colored editions are printed regularly but what matters is not the color but the content. Paying tribute to Sardar Khan Niazi he said that Sardar Khan Niazi has worked very hard and has achieved tremendous success by establishing a full fledged media house.
Siddiqui advised the media not to criticize for the sake of it and indulge in positive criticism that results in betterment of the country. In his concluding remarks he congratulated the entire team of Daily the Patriot and Sardar Khan Niazi.
Sarmad Ali, the President of All Pakistan Newspapers society speaking on the occasion said that Daily the Patriot is a respected name among the English dailies in Pakistan. He said that numerous suo motu notices have been taken by Supreme Court on issues highlighted by Daily The Patriot and Supreme Court’s library and the PLD book bears testament to this face. He said that the paper has one of the best layouts among English language newspapers. He concluded by saying that ‘I am a fan of Sardar Khan Niazi’.
Sardar Khan Niazi speaking on the occasion said that I regard Majeed Nizami and Irfan Siddiqui as my teachers in the field of journalism and I have learnt a lot from them. He said that I have a learnt a lot from my friends but at the same time the conspiracies of my adversaries also made me learn a lot of things. He said that I have been associated with the field of journalism for well over twenty-five years and I faced a lot of tough times during this period but I never compromised on my principles. He added that Pakistan Group of Newspapers will always stand for objective journalism.
Analyst of Roze News program Defense Matters Lt Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib speaking on the occasion said that I have been part of this media group for nearly two and a half years now. He said that Daily The Patriot has established a name for itself in history due to its quality reporting. Seconding Captain (R) Safdar he said that today vulgarity has become a norm which should be condemned. He said that objective criticism is the need of the hour and there is no need in indulging uncalled for criticism due to personal biases. Highlighting the need for a strong anti corruption drive he said that no one should be spared and every corrupt person should be held accountable. He concluded by saying that Pakistan’s future lies in continuation of democracy.
Chaudhry Mushahid Raza speaking on the occasion lauded the services of Sardar Khan Niazi and said that aspiring journalists should follow his example.
Bonuses were handed out to the staff of Daily the Patriot on the occasion and shields were presented to the guests who graced the ceremony with their presence. The ceremony concluded with cutting of cake to mark the 16th anniversary of the newspaper.
Achievements of The Patriot & Sardar Khan Niazi
- Supreme Court took suo motu notice after the paper highlighted missing persons case.
- Apex Court took suo motu after coverage of heinous murder of brothers in Sialkot
- SC took suo motu after the paper highlighted Multi Professionals Housing Society scandal
- The paper highlighted the sugar scandal and action on which save national exchequer from loss of billions
- SK Niazi was presented a gold medal by AQ Khan for reporting on nuclear affairs
- SK Niazi was presented an award by DG NAB for continuously pinpointing corruption scandals.
- SK Niazi has scooped the prestigious International Media Award twice in 2015 & 2016
- SK Niazi was presented an award by former Army Chief Gen (R) Raheel Sharif
- SK Niazi has won countless national and international awards for his reporting in Daily The Patriot
- SK Niazi was presented award by Apex Court for the Group’s contribution during the lawyers movement for the Restoration of Judiciary
- An investigation write up in Daily The Patriot by Sardar Khan Niazi forced then President Asif Zardari to raise the salaries of soldiers of Pakistan Army
- Daily The Patriot has taken it upon itself to highlight cases involving violation of human rights
- SK Niazi is also the recipient of Tamgha-Imitaz for his services for the field of journalism.
Pakistan Group of Newspapers:
Pakistan Group of Newspapers is not just the name of Daily Pakistan Islamabad Daily The Patriot. The group has an extensive array of regional and national newspapers that apart from the above mentioned include Daily Pakistan Rawalpindi, Daily Pakistan Muzzafarabad, Daily Pakistan Multan, Daily Pakistan Karachi, Daily Pakistan Quetta.
The groups regional newspapers include Nawai Nawabshah, Daily Action Sindh, monthly Naya Rukh and eveninger Mera Pak Watan.
