MKR has rendered innumerable services to journalism. In an exclusive interview with The News, Jamiluddin A’ali talks about MKR - a friend and a colleague.

“No matter whether it is his death anniversary or birthday, I always remember Mir Khalil-ur Rahman for being a nice human-being and a close friend. Moreover, it is his great deeds and services rendered in the field of journalism and in my case true friendship which make him a memorable personality”, said renowned poet and scholar, Jamiluddin A’ali while commenting on the on the role of MKR in the field of journalism.

The great works of MKR are an asset to journalists all over and have been recorded as a golden chapter in the history of Pakistani journalism. Recalling his days with MKR, A’ali observed, “Mir saheb not only made Jang into a great Urdu newspaper and Akhbar-e-Jahan’ into a famous and widely circulated Urdu weekly, but also enriched English journalism in Pakistan by introducing MAG, Daily News, The News and by setting up other journalistic organisations. Besides this, through his newspapers and magazines both in Urdu and English, he introduced and promoted investigative, creative and ethical journalism. In other words, MKR set an exemplary trend in the field of Urdu and English journalism.”

While soliloquising over the days of his friendship with MKR, A’ali said, “he was a very articulate friend and never rejected my suggestions.”
“It was on my desire that he started a literary page in daily Jang, which to date is being printed and promoting new literary works. As a matter of fact, at one point, he also asked me to write a column about culture and literature for his reputed paper, which gained me popularity amongst the readers. I wrote this column for quite a long time.”  
Moreover, he had allotted certain pages in his papers and magazines as his personal contribution to promoting good literature in the Pakistani society.

Mir saheb was a keen observer and knew well the inclination and the interests of his writers. It was because of this sharp observation about different people’s writing skills that he was always able to find the right people with the required temperament to write on a particular subject.
A’ali further added that he is very glad when he looks at the new heights of success attained by the Jang group. Together his sons have played an important role in the promotion of true journalistic values in the society. The foundation of Geo TV was laid down, an action that not only revolutionised the entire newspaper industry, but also turned his own organisation into a complete media organisation with a print media wing, and an electronic media wing. The weekly Akhbar-e-Jahan also made an immense success by covering a variety of issues in this weekly magazine, giving especial prominence to issues which help promote health, cultural and literary values.

The delegation of editors of Pakistan going to participate in the General Assembly of International Press Institute in Berlin, just before their departure. From L/R Ajmal Hussain (Illustrated Weekly), Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman (Jang), H M Abbas (Comment) and Fakhar Matri (Millat).