To Call Darkness Light, the Storm a Gentle Breeze!!!

On Leadership, Journalism, and Moral Courage

In my understanding, a true leader and a true journalist  must possess certain essential qualities.

A lofty vision, words that soothe the heart, a soul that burns with purpose these alone are the provisions for a journey of consequence.

Such a person believes in God, is pious and truthful, self-respecting yet humble, educated in both worldly and spiritual knowledge. They are courageous, just, and capable of leadership; they confront adversity with wisdom, serve humanity, and act as stewards of their nation’s dignity.

A leader must serve the people first, safeguard every coin in the national treasury as a sacred trust, and recognize food, education, and healthcare as fundamental human rights. Justice must be impartial; priorities must be clear. Such a leader will stake their very life for peace and fairness, ensuring that even the weakest are protected, and that citizens can hold their rulers accountable. Intellectual freedom, equality, and security must be guaranteed.

If I ever witness such a leader, I will praise them without hesitation. If a ruler violates these principles, my pen will speak  unflinchingly, without fear. These are not merely political ideals; they are ethical and spiritual imperatives, essential for any civilized society.

You hold the sword; I hold the pen. Speak — will you sever oppression, or shall I?

Today, journalism is in crisis because it has strayed from its moral compass. The press often worships personalities and dynasties rather than confronting injustice. My pen cannot sing the praises of names or families while basic public needs remain unmet. If justice is absent, corruption thrives, uncertainty reigns, and the youth are fleeing the country — then panegyrics are meaningless. A journalist is not a court poet; it is governments, not opposition parties, that must rectify these failings.

A journalist must love faith and country selflessly. They must understand national issues deeply and be aware of global policies and practices, learning from other nations’ successes and failures. Above all, they must champion truth and the welfare of the people, even at personal risk. Their allegiance to any political party must never supersede their duty to justice.

A journalist is society’s conscience, its eyes, ears, and voice. They may critique or praise policies, but they must never invade personal lives. The pen is not a tool for gossip or vendetta; it is a moral instrument, wielded for the common good.

I first picked up the pen as a form of intellectual jihad. My first column, published in 1999, was titled “From Kashmir Paradise on Earth to the Completion of Pakistan.” It critiqued political excesses at the time, including all-night celebrations during Vajpayee’s visit to Minar-e-Pakistan. My second column questioned the rationale for withdrawing the army from Kargil, invoking history and lessons from the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.

From pre-Islamic history to Karbala, from Makkah to Kargil, I traced the consequences of leadership and policy. Writing against rulers was once rare, but truth must always be spoken, regardless of fear.

To step into the arena of truth is a form of martyrdom; being a Muslim is never easy.

My pen has always defended justice, condemned oppression, and supported only what is right. Islam and Pakistan are integral to my faith. Those who enhance their dignity will receive my praise; those who violate it will face my critique. The sanctity of the pen is inviolable. If necessary, I am ready to fill it with my own blood in defense of truth but never to support falsehood.

When a pen is silenced, corrupted, or fails to speak its moral truth, it darkens the future of a nation  a crime history never forgives. Pharaohs may drown, but history endures, and injustice leaves its mark forever.

Before I entered journalism, I read a hadith that has guided me ever since:

“On the Day of Judgment, the highest rank among martyrs belongs to the one who advises the ruler of his time and is killed for it.”

Humans chase worldly gains, yet sustenance and death chase them. A Muslim must not refrain from speaking truth out of fear of death.

When the hour of death is predetermined, why should sleep evade us at night?

The dignity with which one walks to the gallows endures; life comes and goes, but honor remains eternal.