Author Description

Product Description The Press in Chains investigates the nature of curbs and censorship imposed by successive governments on the press during British rule in India, and during the first two-three decades of Pakistan's independence. This well-researched book highlights measures taken by various governments againstpress freedom till the end of the Ayub Khan era. The volume features the origins of the local press in the subcontinent and highlights the contribution of the early crusaders of press freedom, and discusses M.A. Jinnah's views on the freedom of the press and his efforts to promote it before andafter the creation of Pakistan. Zamir Niazi also focuses on the action taken by governments against some newspapers during the initial phase of parliamentary democracy/civilian rule that ended in 1958. The Press in Chains includes the story of the takeover of Progressive Papers Limited by the government, the creation of the National Press Trust, and the acquisition of the news agency APP by the Ayub government. Certain legislative measures and the system of press advices adopted by differentgovernments to restrict freedom of expression are discussed in detail. About the Author Zamir Niazi joined the national daily Dawn in 1954 and soon became a sub-editor. In 1962, he left Dawn to be a chief sub-editor and lead writer at its rival, the Daily News, before joining the Business Recorder in 1965 where he remained for 25 years. In 1986, Zamir Niazi released his book The PressIn Chains for the first time, and followed up on his success with two more books, both on the suppression of the freedom of expression in Pakistan, The Press under Siege and The Web of Censorship. Both books were popular, and Niazi emerged as the hero and leader of the movement for the freedom ofthe in Pakistan in the 1990s. Zamir Niazi died in 2004.