Published on August 17, 2012
Shams Malik was one of the most senior and well-known journalists in Pakistan. Being a resolute and dauntless journalist, he always met boldly with hardships. He was indeed a standard-bearer of justice and truth in the field of journalism. He worked in many newspapers including Zamindar, Ehsaan, Aafaq, Taqat, Kohistan, Nawaiwaqt and others.
He was born in August 1920 into a well-educated and respectable family of Punjab. After completing his graduation in 1940, he was appointed as the Editor of his university's journal. There he studied with the most prominent personalities of the Indo-Pak Subcontinent. His services in Zamindar have a notable place in the history of journalism. Zamindar was one of the most popular newspapers among the Muslims of Indo-Pak Subcontinent which was managed by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan.
Shams Malik was a relentless activist of Tehreek-e-Pakistan. When the movement against the British government was in progress, a mentionable incident relevant to Mr. Malik took place:
In order to revoke the movement, the British government arrested thousands of Muslims and Hindus in censure of rebellion. Mr. Malik arrived at the court to observe the legal proceeding of the case. But he was shocked when he saw that there was not a single Muslim advocate in the court on behalf of the arrested Muslims. He returned to his office and tried to get in touch with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. At that time, Mr. Jinnah was not in the city. So Mr. Malik telephoned him and briefed him about the careless behaviour of Muslim lawyers. The next day when he went to the court, he saw many Muslim lawyers taking part in the proceeding.
In order to revoke the movement, the British government arrested thousands of Muslims and Hindus in censure of rebellion. Mr. Malik arrived at the court to observe the legal proceeding of the case. But he was shocked when he saw that there was not a single Muslim advocate in the court on behalf of the arrested Muslims. He returned to his office and tried to get in touch with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. At that time, Mr. Jinnah was not in the city. So Mr. Malik telephoned him and briefed him about the careless behaviour of Muslim lawyers. The next day when he went to the court, he saw many Muslim lawyers taking part in the proceeding.
Besides Zamindar, he worked in many other newspapers in Lahore including Ehsaan, Aafaq, Taqat and Kohistan etc. In 1956, he was elected as the President of Punjab Union of Journalists. In 1964, when The Kohistan was launched in Multan (The City of Saints), he came to Multan to take over as Resident Editor and then settled there permanently.
In 1974, he founded The Aazan Weekly. In 1978, when the publishing of The Daily Nawaiwaqt started in Multan, he was appointed as News Editor.
In 1990, Government of Punjab presented Tehreek-e-Pakistan Gold Medal to Mr. Shams Malik (Late) for his phenomenal services in Tehreek-e-Pakistan. His eldest son, Mr. Azam Malik received the award.
He was awarded The President's Award for Pride of Performance on March 23, 2011. He is the only journalist from Southern Punjab who has ever been presented with this award. The award was conferred in recognition of his meritorious services in the field of journalism. His son Mr. Anwar Malik received the award at a ceremony organized in connection with Pakistan Day at the Governor's House. Besides, a book on life of Shams Malik is also being published.
Mr. Shams Malik lived through life's challenges with courage and contentment and that is why he had no property. He passed a major part of his journalistic life in rented houses.
He passed away due to a heart attack on June 15, 1985, in Multan. It is a fact that he raised the foundations of independent and broad-minded journalism and his importance was like a milestone in trustworthy journalism and that is the reason that his absence is still felt in the journalistic sectors.
Mr. Shams Malik lived through life's challenges with courage and contentment and that is why he had no property. He passed a major part of his journalistic life in rented houses.
He passed away due to a heart attack on June 15, 1985, in Multan. It is a fact that he raised the foundations of independent and broad-minded journalism and his importance was like a milestone in trustworthy journalism and that is the reason that his absence is still felt in the journalistic sectors.
Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them because those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.
May his beautiful soul rest in eternal peace. (Aameen)
