KARACHI: \u201cThe book tells you about the situation in the newsroom, the pressures, the censorship and the compromises made during reporting of events like the general election,\u201d said Kamal Siddiqi, a former journalist and director of Centre for Excellence in Journalism at IBA, while speaking at the launch of senior journalist Nizamuddin Siddiqui\u2019s book, Election 2018 \u2014 The Diary of a Sceptic, at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Thursday, exactly one year after the said elections.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur young generation needs to read about what has been happening in Pakistan\u2019s history through the eyes of a journalist and people who write such books and bring things on record are like saving graces. Otherwise when designing courses for media students, we find that not much has been written about Pakistan\u2019s journalism history and we are left with Zamir Niazi Sahib\u2019s books to quote from,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an interesting book, not abstract but a practical treatise, which should be made recommended reading for media students,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Senior journalist Zubeida Mustafa said she wanted to congratulate Siddiqui on his style of writing. \u201cI was not in the country during last year\u2019s general election and I used to keep abreast with happenings through Dawn.com and the details I missed I have come to learn about now through this book,\u201d she said. \u201cIt looks at the elections through the lens of a journalist.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the author\u2019s observations were an interesting read. \u201cHe shares his view about political parties. He also talks about the army\u2019s role, and quite openly and freely at that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Zubeida Mustafa drew a parallel between Ayesha Siddiqa\u2019s book Miltary Inc., and Nizamuddin Siddiqui\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has also written about religious parties and how the Election Commission of Pakistan accepted these parties. He has not even ignored women and the role of female voters in the last elections and it is great that all these aspects have been recorded in book form,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Dr Riaz Sheikh, the dean of social sciences faculty at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (Szabist), recalled the country\u2019s previous elections and martial laws while appreciating the book. \u201cThis is basically a diary. And like other diaries that have recorded important moments of history such as The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Akhtar Baloch\u2019s diary, etc, it serves as a primary source of research.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas said a story written by a journalist was like an open first information report. \u201cYou can make additions to it,\u201d he said. \u201cNizamuddin Siddiqui\u2019s book is a great source of reference as one often tends to forget things. Its conclusion is inconclusive as several questions about the 2018 elections remain unanswered,\u201d he said. \u201cThe second edition must take the argument forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

The event was presided over by Dawn newspaper\u2019s Readers\u2019 Editor Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, who appreciated the effective use of words by the author for maximum impact. \u201cYou have to be an avid reader, especially of books, to know how to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said young people so engrossed in their smartphones needed to cut down on screen time and read more books to get a fair idea about what happened before the elections, what happened on election day and what is going on now around them.<\/p>\n

Speaking about his book the author Nizamuddin Siddiqui said that he had a feeling about all not being well with the elections last year so he started observing things rather closely. \u201cWe newsroom journalists have odd timings so when penning my thoughts I was also not sure where to find the time to do the research. But then I thought that the diary format suited me more,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter sharing my first draft with a colleague, Maleeha Siddiqui, I got feedback that it sounded like reportage. Then when I showed it to Kamal Siddiqi, he encouraged me to complete it. Those who feel I have not shared my opinion or views I will tell you that my viewpoint is very much in there however subtle,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Earlier, political commentator and teacher of journalism Dr Tauseef Ahmed, who moderated the event, said instead of digging out old newspapers while doing research, students of political science and journalism can read the book. \u201cIf you missed any news stories about the 2018 elections, you can always catch up on the events that took place during those days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, A.H. Khanzada, head of KPC\u2019s literary committee, which organised the launch, thanked the guests.<\/p>\n

Dawn<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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