Daily Times
July 9, 2021
The ways of a man were different from the ways of men. My friend and renowned writer, Prof Waris Mir, was an intellectually gifted journalist and a gutsy analyst of his time. He was amongst those dedicated writers who dared to put their lives at stake to preserve the sanctity of their pen by challenging military dictators.
Prof Mir is recognised for his courageous struggle to uphold the cause of democracy, press freedom and women’s rights through his bold writings during the dictatorial era of General Ziaul Haq, the most turbulent period of Pakistan’s political history. Speaking out at the behest of the people with a mission–“to write for the posterity, to speak as the people’s voice” – was a task not many writers and journalists could take up in those oppressive days. Being an intellectual with moral courage and a mighty heart, he was not ready to become a silent spectator to the brutality of a dictator bent upon stabbing democracy. Being a