(This essay by the late Zafaryab Ahmed was run by Viewpoint on July 6, 1989. A progressive journalist and human rights activist, Zafaryab Ahmed himself spent time behind the bar and died in exile)
ASTHMA and silence became his identity ever since his release from prison in October, 1978.
Nasir Zaidi was an employee of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in 1977 when, in the name of "fairplay", the military took over the reins of government and the longest and most unfair chapter in our political history began. Institutions which guaranteed any condition of civilised living were destroyed on the whims of an individual. Religious injunctions were invoked to justify absolute power. A reign of intolerance based on violence and corruption was let loose. A large number of intellectuals, artists, writers, journalists and political activists were arrested, persecuted, blackmailed, tortured and even killed during the 11 years of military rule of General Zia.
Nasir Zaidi was arrested twice within the first 12 months of martial law. On his second arrest, he was awarded a year's imprisonment and five lashes by a summary military court. To show their superiority over civilian institutions, the army completed the entire process - arrest, trial, judgement and execution of lashes — within two hours. “Impressive, isn't it,” Nasir Zaidi asked with an ironic smile on his face. “But why do you want to interview me”.
A look of grim determination appeared on Zaidi's face. "The sanctity of our vote had been challenged. Rigging or no rigging, it was a matter between political parties. We were already bitter that the axe fell on the media and Musawaat, Karachi, was closed. As all other means of redress against this high-handedness had been made invalid, we took to the streets on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the All-Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation to register our protest. I also joined the protest and was arrested. The martial law authorities perhaps were not yet sure of their strength. In an attempt to gain time, after negotiations with our representatives, they restored the paper and released the 31 journalists arrested during the movement".
A pause, and then: “I had lost my job. People were being fed on promises and rumours. It was a situation of complete confusion. But at a latent level, we had some hope for the return of a civilian government. I believe now that it was based on a superficial understanding of political reality.”
Then in March, 1978, Musawaat’s Lahore edition was closed down. After failing in attempts to get a negotiated settlement with the military authorities, the PFUJ and
APNEC launched a protest movement on April 30.
Zaidi recalled: “It was an amazing experience. Activists from all walks of organised life joined our movement and courted arrest in defence of freedom of expression and to save an important democratic institution. I along with three other Journalists Masood Ullah Khan, Iqbal Jafari, and Khawar Naeem Hashmi - took our turn to court arrest on May 31. By then the military authorities had started showing their teeth. General Mujibur Rahman had taken over responsibility to manage the media. Immediately after the police picked us up from Musawaat's office, we were produced before a summary military court headed by a young major. Within minutes, he completed his summary proceeding, and without giving us an opportunity to defend ourselves, he sentenced us to imprisonment and lashes”.
Zaidi said that after being lashed, they were put in fetters. Then we were moved from this prison to another. I was in Karachi Jail. It was about two months after my arrest that I had my first attack of asthama, which could have been cured if it was treated immediately. But it deteriorated. After my release, it was a struggle for survival. My mother too had developed serious emotional and physical problems. Repression was at its height. People were fleeing the country to avoid victimisation and arrest. Some were sent to the gallows for crimes they didn't commit and mothers died while their sons were in prison or exile”.
Zaidi knows that the fight has not ended. But he knows also that there is some hope now of a democratic dispensation and thus also of freedom of expression.
