ISLAMABAD, May 14, 2025 — The Rawalpindi‑Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) convened its annual “Day of Commitment” seminar at the National Press Club (NPC) on Tuesday to honor journalists who have endured imprisonment, physical hardship and censorship in defense of press freedom.

Pakistan Peoples Party‑Parliamentarians (PPP‑P) Spokesperson and Member of National Assembly Shazia Marri delivered the keynote address, reaffirming her party’s “unwavering support for media workers across all forums, including Parliament.” Marri praised Pakistani journalists for their “responsible and mature reporting” during recent India‑Pakistan tensions, countering “false narratives and propaganda” from abroad.

Farhatullah Babar, president of the PPP Human Rights Cell, reminded attendees that the Day of Commitment commemorates the 48th anniversary of journalists being flogged under General Zia ul‑Haq’s regime. “The whip‑marks on Nasir Zaidi’s back shine brighter than any medal,” he said, paying tribute to the veteran scribe and former PFUJ secretary. Nasir Zaidi himself declared, “When Zia’s dictatorship ended, journalism lived on—today’s punishments may have changed form, but the challenges remain the same.”

Malaika Raza, General Secretary of the PPP Human Rights Cell, opened her remarks by expressing her privilege at participating in the PFUJ’s Day of Commitment seminar. “I am honored to stand alongside the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists here at the National Press Club, commemorating the May 13 struggle of working journalists,” she said. Raza paid tribute to the “courage and resilience” of veteran voices such as Nasir Zaidi, Farhatullah Babar and Shazia Marri, whose speeches underscored the press’s vital role in democracy. She reaffirmed the Pakistan People’s Party–Parliamentarians’ “steadfast commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression and press freedom” and lauded Pakistani media for its “responsible, mature reporting” during recent tensions with India, which helped steer public discourse away from misinformation.

RIUJ President Tariq Ali Virk and NPC Acting Secretary Shiraz Gardezi also addressed the gathering, joined by senior media figures including Raja Bashir Usmani, Javed Siddiqui, Nadeem Chaudhry, Shah Muhammad, Shahriyar Khan, Abid Abbasi, and Mahira Imran Qurban Satti. They underscored the need for timely payment of salaries, editorial independence from proprietors, and vigilance against new forms of pressure—from anonymous phone threats to enforced disappearances.