IN THE LINE OF DUTY: JOURNALISTS BRAVING COVID-19

The 4^th pillar of the state is the most vulnerable amid Covid-19 pandemic. The journalists’ fraternity has called on government to give priority to media practitioners for the coronavirus vaccinations as they are the dedicated frontline workers.

MAHTAB BASHIR
03335363248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
ISLAMABAD

Front-line journalists at risk, seek vaccination priority

I am always saddened when death invades a family circle, and quite naturally so. However, as I remember those dear ones nature snatched away in hurry amid the Covid-19 pandemic, let me turn my fear into faith, my sorrow into joy, and my loneliness into Divine Companionship, that reach out to the Almighty Allah - my ‘Divine Comforter’.

As the coronavirus continues to spread its relentless tentacles all over the world, news stories of lock-downs, social distancing and overwhelmed hospitals have been making the headlines just about everywhere.

The journalists’, in such situation, are the most vulnerable not internally but externally too. Gutted resources, late salaries, years of backlog salaries, laying off staff and closure of media houses are least to portray the gloomy picture since the novel virus reached to Pakistan.

Amid the welter of information swirling about on social media, professional journalists’ left with no option to deliver with “out of the box approach”- and that too in the era of Covid-19 for their survival as well as for their siblings.

Will journalists be considered front-line workers for COVID-19 vaccination?

In this panic ridden scenario, as many as four senior prominent journalists from twin cities (Islamabad-Rawalpindi) have become victims of this cruel virus. During the second wave of Covid-19, Arshad Waheed Chaudhry (died on November 14, 2020), and Tariq Mahmood Malik (died on December 16, 2020) succumbed to this novel virus while the 3^rd wave of it snatched away Sohail Abdul Nasir (died on March 26, 2021) and Johar Majeed (died on March 26, 2021).

Sohail Abdul Nasir (from Nawa-i-Waqt) who passed away with Covid-19 infection was a seasoned journalist. Nasir got admitted in PIMS Hospital few weeks ago after he tested positive for Covid-19. He breathed his last on Friday, March 26. The senior journalist left behind his wife, three sons and a host of relatives and colleagues to mourn his death.

Waqar Abbasi, a journalist and a colleague of the deceased in Nawa-e-Waqt said, “As soon as I joined Nawa-i-Waqt in 2007, Sohail’s unflinching support remained intact with me. He was like my elder brother. When I came to know he is ailing, I facilitated him for all tests including Covid-19. Later, he was tested coronavirus positive and I remained in touch with him in his toughest time he went through,” Abbasi maintained.

Sohail Abdul Nasir (Daily Nawa-i-Waqt) Died: March 26, 2021 

He said when Sohail was admitted in PIMS (hospital), I continued to encourage him because I’ve already suffered with it. “As soon as he was switched to the ventilator and he handed me over a tiny piece of paper with some outstanding dues (credit/debit), even than my mind never went to that level as that Sohail
Abdul Nasir will never meet me again,” he said with tears rolling down to his cheeks.

Abbasi said, he was one of the most talented, kind-hearted and down-to-earth journalist who never hesitated to help other fellows, be it me or anyone else.

Sohail Abdul Nasir was an outstanding journalist. His major area (beat) of interest was foreign policy, regional security issues and the war on terrorism. From breaking the story

“Pakistan will test fire nukes today” (1998), and the extensive coverage of “Operation Neptune Spear” in Abbottabad (2011) brought him to limelight. And after that there was no way looking back.  

Ch. Shahid Ajmal from Nawa-i-Waqt while paying tributes to Sohail Abdul Nasir, said “he was a gem of a person, a rare breed of a journalist. I’ve never seen him talking loud, or anything rubbish. A thorough gentleman, who took this profession passionately and later, has proved it. He was indeed a role model for a journalist’s fraternity”.

Johar Majeed, a senior journalist of a daily newspaper Ausaf (Rawalpindi) breathed his last on March 26, 2021due to Covid-19 positive. He got admitted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Transplant (RIUT) after showing symptoms similar to that of coronavirus. Later, he was tested positive for Covid-19. After a week time he embraced Shahadat.

Johar Majeed (Daily Ausaf) Died: March26,2021

Majeed was a selfless journalist who could spend days with those in need of help. His major area of coverage was a health sector. He was just a call away to extend his help- no matter the help-seeker was known to him or a stranger. He was supposed to sit in the hospitals until the treatment of that (person) is over. He was indeed a social worker who sough
t satisfaction by helping others.

Talking to this scribe, President RIUJ (Dastoor) Khawar Nawaz Raja said, “Johar Majeed was a jolly good person. Hardly, I’ve seen him in anger. I’ve found him available every time and for everyone who had health issues. He went to the respective hospitals before the patient and received prayers of those in need all the time. But unfortunately, we have lost such a soul who’s ambition was to help humanity in disguise of a journalist,” he said. 

An author of two books, “Jaraeem ka taakub” and “Motorway se Metro tak”, Johar Majeed was a literary man too. He spent much of his time working for Daily Ausaf. He has left behind his wife, a young daughter and hundreds of his friends and relatives to mourn over his death.  

Tariq Mahmood Malik (Hum News) Died: Dec16, 2020

After Majeed’s sudden disappearance, the management of Ausaf announced to give financial help to his daughter to continue her studies.

Earlier, during the 2^nd wave of coronavirus, two prominent journalists Arshad Waheed Chaudhary and Tariq Mehmood Malik died of Covid-19. Both were elegant, sociable, and down-to-earth.

Tariq Malik was a senior journalist (of Hum News) and an academician. A senior broadcast journalist, Faisal Raza Khan while remembering Mailk said, “He was indeed a journalist at par but more than that he was a good human being. “Everyday at the morning time, he used to call me to ask whether I need him and every time I replied- yes. He was a gem of a person. When I went to his native village at his funeral rites, I met a number of people (infact families)- who told me Malik had been helping them (financially) for the last many years (secretly)- but now we have again become shelterless”.       

Arshad Waheed Ch. (Geo News) Died: Nov14, 2020

Arshad Waheed Chaudhary, a senior journalist associated with Geo TV, had also passed away due to Covid-19. Chaudhary has been anchoring a popular programme “Geo Parliament” based upon political situation of the country. He has also been writing columns with the title “Point of order” in Daily Jang. He was from Sahiwal.    

State run institutions, has shown their apathy over this gloomy picture. All of these mediapersons were not just in four numbers- but four families- who will suffer what others could not. Amid this murky picture, the journalists’ fraternity and various journalists’ organizations have called government for “media workers to give them priority access to coronavirus vaccines”. 

Dear members of the 4^th pillar, May the Almighty Allah grant (all of you) the highest place in Heaven. Ameen!