Nationality Pakistani | Died 15 January 2011 | |
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Full Name Minhaj Muhammad Khan Born 1923 Ahmadabad, Gujrat, British India. Occupation Journalist, Trade Union Leader | ||
Celebrating dr sarwar minhaj barna lahore 2009
Minhaj Barna (Urdu: منہاج برنا) born Minhaj Muhamad Khan (1923-15 January 2011) was a Pakistani veteran journalist and trade union leader. He served as a president PFUJ during his career and was also the founder of the All-Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC). He was best known for his appealing leadership and challenging struggle for press freedom during the military dictatorships.
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Barna was a "sincere person and a conscientious, principled journalist," who not only fought for the journalists but also fought for the rights of other press employees. Pakistani media describe him as an "Icon of struggle." Barna was the elder brother of Meraj Muhammad Khan, a well-known left-wing politician. Barna received the award Tamgha-i-Imtiaz by the government of Pakistan for his constitution of journalism. Barna died in Islamabad on January 15, 2011.
Early life
Barna was born in 1925 in a conservative Rohilkhand Pathan family in Ahmadabad, Gujrat, India. His family came from Qaimganj in the Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh. India. Barna obtained his primary education in Ahmadabad, later he moved to Bombay and worked as a teacher. After that, he went to Delhi, where he joined the Jamia Millia and received his graduation degree. He also became the member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) to fight against the British rule.
Barna migrated with his family to Pakistan in 1949, where he joined several newspapers such as the Daily Imroze, the Pakistan Times and the Muslim. He also worked for the Associated Press of Pakistan news agency. It was his last assignment. He died at a private hospital on 15 January 2011. He was suffering from duodenum ulcer for long and had undergone surgery, since struggling for his life. He was buried at the Racecourse Graveyard in Rawalpindi. Pakistan.
Career
He started his career working with several newspapers in Pakistan. His major roles were as secretary-general and president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) He was also the founder-president of All-Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation that includes the union of journalists and combined unions of newspaper organisations.