Agha Murtaza Pooya, a trailblazer of independent journalism, passed away last month. The founder of The Muslim English daily from Islamabad, Agha Murtaza, had come to be known in the country for promoting freedom of expression and the struggle for democracy. Apart from his contributions to the free press, Pooya was also a renowned political thinker and religious scholar. Known for his intellectual depth and active role in public affairs, he also served as a federal minister and headed a public sector Islamabad-based think-tank. He later became the Senior Vice President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek.
People from all walks of life remembered his contributions to the country. In her condolence message, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, who served as editor of The Muslim, said, ‘He (Agha Murtaza Pooya) established The Muslim newspaper that became the voice of resistance during Gen Zia’s martial law and made stellar contributions to journalism in Pakistan.’
In his tribute, former senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, also a former editor of The Muslim, recalled, ‘Agha Murtaza Pooya sahib’s The Muslim introduced a new kind of investigative, informative, and analytical journalism with a team that blended youth with experience! The Muslim opposed the Afghan War, supported the MRD Movement, criticized the 1984 General Zia Referendum, backed the Iranian Revolution, gave insights into the workings of the ‘Establishment’ and civil-military relations, strongly promoted human rights and women’s rights, even giving free front-page ads to the newly-formed Women’s Action Forum (WAF), strongly supported the Bomb Project + issues like Kashmir and Palestine. It was the only newspaper in Pakistan then that had the guts to publish news and interviews about Benazir Bhutto! Agha Pooya Sahib was the boldest and most imaginative newspaper owner in Pakistan’s history!’
The Muslim newspaper and Agha Murtaza Pooya had become an institution, a symbol of reactionary movement and new thought. We often talk about the Zia-ul-Haq era, which was, indeed, tainted with tyranny and authoritarianism. In these challenging circumstances, Agha Murtaza Pooya and his newspaper promoted new narratives, thoughts, and social and political consciousness. However, the atmosphere of suffocation and fear in today’s democratic system was absent in those times. Pooya himself was new to the world of journalism. While the columnists in The Muslim were not well-known intellectuals and celebrated writers, they were highly educated with foreign qualifications, and all were considered among those undesirable elements called anti-establishment today.
The late Agha Murtaza Pooya will be remembered for his efforts to promote freedom of expression in the country and for his struggle for democracy. Those who knew him lauded his valuable services for promoting harmony among different sects and fostering interfaith unity in Pakistani society. His passing is indeed a tremendous loss to Pakistan, especially at a time when there aren’t that many unifying national figures left in the country. 
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