Mass Media in Pakistan

1. ALISHAB ISHAQ
BS MASS COMMUNICATION
Mass media in Pakistan
SEMESTER2
The Growth of Muslim Press in Sub-continent
1. Muslim Press in Historical Perspective
It is undeniable fact that media has a deep and widespread impact on the
masses.The public participation cannot be ensured in the process of
social-economic development until and unless there is awareness among the
masses about a policy, program, and action of the government regarding a
problem. An effective media can only ensure such awareness in a given
society. All this depends on the role of media whether it is positive or negative.
1. History
Communication in the Primitive Society
Face-to-face communication was the order of the day in primitive society,
when feudal states expanded and empires began to emerge the monarchs had
to devise new techniques of communication in order to maintain contact with
people inhabiting the far-flung areas of the empire
The old efficient system of communication
In Islamic society, mosque played a very important role in communication, both
secular and spiritual. In the first instance, this represented an instrument for
face-to-face communication. When the Islamic State assumed dimensions, a

2. news organization was established with the chief at the headquarters, served
by a large number of news writers functioning in provincial capitals sending
their newsletters speedily through an efficient system of horse-posts and
camel- posts and in some still more speedily through the system of
pigeon-post. News meant to be conveyed to the people was transmitted
through the pulpit of the mosques. Mughal Emperors of the Indo-Pakistan
subcontinent streamlined the system.
Common Man transmitted news
The news for the common man was transmitted through couriers to far-flung
areas which was announced by the beat of the drum
Introduction of printing and Indo-Pakistan Sub-Continent
When printing was introduced, the pattern of communication underwent a
basic change. In the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent as well as in other Asian
lands under subjugation, printed newspapers developed in an almost similar
fashion, first appeared the English language newspapers for the European
settlers
Newspaper Sponsored by Foreign Missionaries
They were followed by newspapers in local languages sponsored by foreign
missionaries with the object of spreading Christianity and convincing the local
inhabitants of the superiority of Western culture and achievements in the
domain of knowledge.
Litho Method (1835)
The litho method of printing Urdu newspapers introduced soon after brought
down the cost of production. Urdu became the court language.
First Urdu Newspaper
Urdu newspaper was “Koh-i-Noor” of Lahore that printed 349 copies of. each
issue in the hey-day of its glory. Even this feeble press, particularly the
segment owned by Muslims, was obliterated during and immediately after the
1857 struggle.
2. The Growth Of Muslim PressIn the Sub-Continent
Censorship of Muslim Press

3. The tempo of political agitation was quickened by the Muslim Press in
Particular, in 1919, that set up new traditions of sacrifice. The Zamindar
reappeared in December 1919. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan went behind the bars
for five years in connection with a speech at Hazier (Campbellpur Distt.) his
son Akbar Ali Khan was sentenced to three years imprisonment for having
published objectionable matter.
The paper was placed under censorship for some time. One sub editor was
imprisoned and Syed Habib himself was sentenced to three years
imprisonment for a seditious speech. Abul Kalam Azad sponsored “Paigham”
from Calcutta in 1921 which had a short lived existence. Qazi Abdul Ghaffar
sponsored “Sabah” from Delhi.
Muslim Press During 1924-1937
During this phase the role of Muslim press could be studied in two stages.
Features of First Stage
 The first stage is the 1924-1928 period
 Muslim politics was in the melting pot
 The following are the principal features of the first stage
Features of second stage
 The second stage
 The second covering the years between 1928 and 1937
 Second stage it took a concrete and clear-cut form
Newspapers came into being in different cities
“Al- Amman” and “Wahdat” from Delhi
“Khilfat” from Bombay, “Haq”
“Hamdam” from Lucknow
“Asre Jadid” and “Hind” from Calcutta
“Al Waheed” from Karachi
“Muslim Outlook” and “Inqilab” from Lahore
Old newspapers

4. Among the old newspapers “Zamindar” remained prominent and “Siaasat”
held.
3. Highlights of Policy
Strive of Muslim Rights
Almost all Muslim dailies were primarily congregate with the possible
exception of the “Muslim Outlook”, at the same time they owed allegiance to
Muslim organizations striving of Muslim rights. They condemned Shuddi and
Saiiathan movements and gave only lukewarm support to the Tabligh and
Tanzem movements.
Unusual Attention
Unusual attention was given to the politics of the Muslim world When
Ibn-i-Saud demolished some tombs “Siasat” opposed him and Zamindar and
Hamdard supported it. When Ibn-i-Saud accepted Kingship, Hamdard too lined
against him while “Zamindar” supported him on the plea that he was
anti-imperialist.
After the separation of Sindh
During this phase the demand for reforms to the N.W.F.P. and separation of
Sind from Bombay were projected from time to time in the columns of the
“Zamindar”. With the emergence of the clear-cut Muslim stand in the form of
Mr. Jinnah’s Fourteen Points.
Muslim press divided into two groups
1. Nationalist group
2. Muslim League group
The former included “Zamindar” of Lahore, “A1 Jamiat” of Delhi, “Madina” of
Bijnor and “Hind” of Calcutta. They also gave full support to the’ Congress
when it launched civil disobedience movements in order to pressurize the
British to part with power without taking into consideration the Muslim national
demands. The erstwhile common membership of both Muslim League and
Congress had, by that time ceased to exist.
Mulana Zaffar Ali Khan sponsored new political party

5. Maulana Zafar Ali Khan left Congress but did not join Muslim League. He
sponsored Majilis-i-Ittihad-i-Millat, a new political party which suffered a rout in
1937 elections and after that he joined Muslim League and stood firm till the
attainment of Pakistan
A group of Muslim nationalists established Majlis-i-Ahrar-i-Islam but stuck to
the nationalist and anti-League policy. It started a few newspapers from time to
time, but they had a short-lived existence.
Role Of Muslim Press 1924-1937
The pro-league Muslim Press of this phase was spear¬headed by the “Muslim
Outlook” and “Inqilab” whose lead was accepted by Muslim papers all over the
sub-continent. Their contribution was as follows:
 They exposed the machinations of the Congress and brought to
surfacethe mischief done through the Nehru Report.
 Despite the Boycott of the Simon Commission by a large body of public
opinion these papers projected Muslim Political demands to the
Commission.
 Their support to the All-parties Muslim Conference and “Jinnah’s
Fourteen Points” was unconditional, vigorous and consistent.
 Their united efforts led to the unification of the two sections of the
League functioning as parallel bodies.
 The Lahore papers (Inqilab and Muslim Outlook) gave full support to
Iqbal’s Allahabad Address and fought against the storm of opposition
raised by the non-Muslim press.
 During the Round Table Conferences (1930-32) the Muslim press
mobilized the public opinion to such a pitch that the announcement of the
Communal Award became inevitable.
 The Muslim press supported the Kashmir Movement launched by Sh.
Abdullah and Ch. Ghulam Abbas and made sacrifices for that. They also
helped in strengthening the Ahrar civil disobedience movement involving
arrest of 30,000 Muslims.
 The administration was continually watched to see where Muslim
interests were trampled upon. These papers also gave support to Muslim
officers who worked under great stress.
 The campaign for social reform and for promotion of education went on
unabated. The papers also acted as forums for Muslim intellectuals who
were ignored by the Hindu press.
 The press was friendly to the Muslim world, kept Indian Muslims
informed of the new trends and movements in the Muslim world but the
emphasis was on home politics.
Muslim journalism during 1924-1937
During this phase the Muslim press grew rather rapidly. A Number of English
language newspapers sprang up while Urdu* Press too had new additions.

6. Together with the old newspapers, they voiced Muslim political aspirations with
still greater force and placed the major role in mobilizing public opinion in
support of the Pakistan Movement. The highlights are as follows:
 Eastern Newspaper
From Lahore appeared “Eastern Times” originally sponsored by Feroz
sons under the temporary editorship of Allama Abdullah Yusuf Ali. He was
followed by Mr. F.K. Khan Durrani who had written a number of books on
Muslim politics.
For a couple of years there existed in Lahore the “New Times” Weekly started
by Malik Barkat Ali which acted as the spokesman of Muslim League.
 Star of india
From Calcutta appeared a daily named “Star of India”, first under the
editorship of Pothan Joseph and then of Lawrence P. Atkison. This was owned
i by Kh. Shahabuddin and his family. This was a positively good paper and did
a lot of work in interpreting Muslim politics.
This was later replaced by “Morning News” jointly owned by Abdur Rahman
Siddiqi and Kh. Nurruddin, brother * of Kh. Shahabuddin. This was and even
now is edited by Mohsin Ali. It was taken over by NPT in 1963 and
consequently closed down in 1993.
 Star newspaper
There was “Star” in Bombay edited by Aziz Beg, another weekly of the
same name from Allahabad sponsored by Sir Shifaat Ahmed Khan, “Decean
Times” from Madras and “Muslim Voice” from Karachi which was owned and
edited by Pir Ali Muhammad Rashdi.
 News agency sponsored
Therefore a news agency named Orient Press of India was sponsored.
Though financially weak and under equipped it did help in circulating news
about Muslim Politics.
 Statesman and the Civil and Military Gazette
The “Statesman” and the “Civil and Military Gazette” of Lahore realizing
that the chances for the projection of Muslim viewpoint were small, initiated
special weekly features on Muslim polities. The column in “Statesman” was
contributed by Mr. Altaf Hussain under the pen name of “Ain-ul-Mulk” and later

7. “Shahid” while in the “Civil and Military Gazette” this column was written by
Syed Nur Ahmed under the by-line “From our Muslim Correspondent.”
 First install teleprinter newspaper
The “Ehsan” edited by Maulana Murtaza Ahmed Khan Maikash and
Chiragh Hasan Hasrat. This appeared from Lahore and was the first to install a
teleprinter.
 Shahbaz
Later the two editors resigned and established “Shahbaz” a new daily
from Lahore which was a much better specimen of journalism than Ehsan.
 Jang and Anjam
The Muslim press in Delhi was strengthened by the appearance of
“Jang” and “Anjam” which in 1947 shifted to Karachi. Both papers supported
the Muslim League.
 Largest Newspaper in East Pakistan
From Calcutta appeared “Azad” in Bengali under the editorship of Maulana
Muhammad Akram Khan who had served as President of the Bengal
Provincial Muslim League for pretty long. This paper shifted to Dacca in 1948
and remained largest in circulation among Bengali papers in former East
Pakistan.
 Millat Newspaper
There also appeared “Millat” from Peshawar under the editorship of Rashid
Akhtar Nadvi and “Tanzeem” from Quetta with Nasim Hijazi as editor. Though
ill equipped, these papers played a notable role in countering congress
propaganda in areas where its incfuence was great.
4. Several other papers were started from other cities of the
sub-continent
Dawn Newspaper
After the Lahore Resolution was passed the Quaid-i- Azam sponsored a
“create Muslim press campaign” and collected funds for the purpose. He
founded the “Dawn” in October 1942 as a daily from Delhi and placed it under
a trust of which he was the Managing Trustee. Its first editor was Pothan
Joseph but after a couple of years Mr. Altaf Hussain replaced him.
 Manshoor
Quaid-i-Azam also started “Manshoor” an Urdu daily Irom Delhi which was the
official organ of the All India Muslim League. This bright and fancy daily was

8. edited by Syed Hasan Riaz. However, this paper could not succeed and had to
close down after a couple of years.
 Nawai-Waqt
Another important addition to the Muslim Press was “Nawai-Waqt” of Lahore