Mohammad Waris Mir

Waris Mir (22 November 1938 9 July 1987) was a Pakistani journalist, intellectual, writer and academic known for his struggle to uphold the cause of democracy and press freedom.

Early life Waris Mir was born on 22 November 1938, the son of Mir Abdul Aziz, who was a poet in Punjabi, Kashmiri, Urdu and Persian. He was a staunch believer in the basic human rights of freedom of thought and expression.

He wrote on national and international issues of his times. He was popular amongst his readers, especially during General Zia-ul-Haq's martial law.

In the time of dictatorship A staunch believer in the basic human rights of freedom of thought and expression, especially during the Martial Law periods of President General Ayub Khan and General Zia-ul-Haq.

Despite facing censorship snipping, threats, mental torture and vandalism, he stood his ground firm against all odds, upholding his principled stance of opposing dictatorship and backing democracy and freedom of expression. The books authored by Mir in Urdu included Hurriyat-e-Fikar kai Mujahid (The warriors of the intellectual freedom), Kaya Aurat Aadhi Hai (Is woman half the human?), and Fauj ki Sayasat (The politics of the Army).

Death and legacy Waris died of a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 48 under mysterious circumstances.

The Government of Bangladesh also decorated him with the country's second highest prestigious award for foreigners, the Friends of Liberation War Honour in 2013 for writing meticulously and fearlessly as a Pakistani journalist against the Pakistani military action in 1971 against the civilian population of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

Publications Waris Mir ka Fikri Asasa – Intellectual asset of Waris Mir (Three volume book) Fauj ki Syasat – (Army in Politics) Kya Aurat Aadhi hai – Is woman half a human? Mujahid-e-Hurriyet-e-Fikar Khoshamdi Journalism and Politics