Documentary released on Karachi Press Club, Pakistan’s oldest
Aim is recognise its role to protect democracy, freedom of speech
Karachi: A documentary was released to recognise the role of Karachi Press Club (KPC), the oldest in Pakistan, to celebrate its role in promoting democracy and the right to free speech in the country.
This is the first-ever documentary on the KPC, which was established in 1958 as the first press club of the United Pakistan (when both the Western and Eastern wings of the country were united). Since then, the KPC has been witness to many political and social movements in Pakistan as it had a central role in some of these drives during the tumultuous times in the country.
The heritage building of KPC built in the British colonial-era bore importance even before the establishment of the Press Club, as it had remained the official residence of Pakistan’s first president Iskander Mirza.
Complete freedom
The documentary highlighted that the KPC has been serving as the virtual Hyde Park in Pakistan as the Opposition politicians and the oppressed people belonging to different walks of life have complete freedom at the press club’s premises to express their opinion and agitate against the powers that be.
The documentary also shed light on the central role the KPC has always played in different countrywide drives launched to protect freedom of press and media in Pakistan.
One of the interviewees, former KPC Secretary, AH Khanzada, said democracy in Pakistan and KPC were so strongly linked that the Press Club had taken a stand against former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto when in the early part of his political career he was a part of the dictatorial regime in the country. While later on, the Press Club stood with Bhutto as he had emerged as the symbol of democracy in the country.
Another former KPC Secretary, Maqsood Yusufi, said the launching of MRD (Movement for Restoration of Democracy) in Pakistan in 1980s had not been possible had the Press Club not provided its space for its debut meetings as political activities had been banned in rest of the country at that time.
KPC incumbent Secretary, Rizwan Bhatti, appreciated the effort of budding journalist, Saad Bin Tufail, for choosing the subject of Press Club for doing his first-ever practical work in the field of media.
He announced that the KPC would institute an award to encourage the excellence shown by the independent documentary producers in the country.