SIRAJ-UD-DIN (SHAHEED) JOURNALIST “ DAILY THE NATION”

To All the Members of PFUJ,

MY BELOVED FATHER SIRAJ-UD-DIN (SHAHEED) JOURNALIST “ DAILY THE NATION”

Dear All,

My beloved father Mr.Sirajuddin was a journalist and associated with journalism for more than two decades. For the last three years he was associated with the English Daily “The Nation” as Staff Reporter before his sad demise on February 29, 2008.

My Father (Shaheed), first he was seriously injured in a suicide attack on the funeral of late DSP, Javed Iqbal in Haji baba School, Mingora on February 29, 2008 while performing his professional duties succumbed to his injuries and embraced martyrdom.

As I accompanied my father on that fateful evening, I am an eyewitness to the blood and gore, which created a wave of trauma and hysteria all over the valley. The spectacle was so horrifying and devastating that words fell short to describe it. It will haunt me for the rest of my life. No one can forget the colossal human loss on that cursed evening. And none can substantiate why my innocent father was murdered so brutally.

Today for the first time the 3^rd death anniversary of The Nation Staff Reporter and my father Journalist Siraj ud Din (Shaheed) was observed on a plat form (Swat Press Club). In this connection Swat Union of journalists have chalked out a programme at Swat press club to pay rich tribute to the work and sacrifices rendered by the martyr journalist who is one of the founders of Swat Press Club.

He had been served his services in Journalism for 23 years, My father Siraj Uddin (Shaheed) had made an impression on his colleagues. He played a pioneering role in the field of objective journalism in the region and was also a role model in the profession. He was a kind, decent and curious. He was also a freedom fighter.

Respected Members, I have been watching you people on television in several live transmission saying that the Journalists of Pakistan especially at swat sacrificed their lives and covered every event in the own going war against terrorism, I would like to draw yours kind attention towards my father martyrdom. We are amongst those families who are directly suffered. My father breathed his last in my arms before my eyes. How can a son forget all this? How can he console his heart that for what crime his beloved father was so brutally murdered?

Adding more for your kind attention that so far not government official neither PFUJ member contacted us even no body made up sympathy call or messages in the past three years. Last year Prime Minister announced that one member of each family who lost a family member in the war against terrorism will get employment in government institution. Government pledges are at large made to the our family. I request you people to kindly take personal interest in my appeal and remind the PM his pledge made to us to please provide government employment to my brother Asif Ali who is done his MBA. We hope for and seek the help of the PFUJ in these helpless, tragic and heartrending circumstances.

Further More,

1. It was announced by President that each victim of the violence in swat would be compensated. The compensation amount announced was Rs. 300,000.00 (Rupees Three Hundred Thousand Only) for each of the dead. So far we did not appear to have received the compensation, announced by President. We wrote again to Presidency office in the same matter, copy of its reply is attached for your kind attention.

Some of the victims of the suicide attack in which my father embraced martyrdom have been compensated from the announced Presidential Funds. We request PFUJ to please provide us this compensation amount to overcome our financial constraints and limitations.

2. In addition to this the benefits, provided by the Government of Pakistan, to which the journalists and their families are entitled after their demise should kindly urged the government officials to provide us.

a. Inclusion of my father’s name in the Journalist Victim Fund

b. Allotment of plot in the Journalist Colon Either in Peshawer or at Islamabad

I am writing this letter with great expectations and hope that PFUJ will certainly seek out a way to help us in these hours of distress and suffering.

Always praying for the good will of Pakistan.

Haroon Siraj

Correspondent Daily The Nation at Swat

S/O

Siraj-ud-Din (Shaheed)

House#02, Siraj-ud-Din Street,
Kalam Road Fizagat,
Mingora Swat.

Ph: Res: 0946-814275
Cell: 0301-8524008