Since its inception as The Pakistan Observer in 1949, the newspaper consistently followed an independent editorial policy, reflecting both the personality of its owner Hamidul Huq Choudhury and its long time editor Abdus Salam, and was an appropriate stance considering the tumultuous history of the region.
This was in response to the newspaper's strong support for the East Pakistan language movement and demands for provincial autonomy.
Both Hamidul Huq Choudhury and Abdus Salam were arrested at this time to stifle the voice of the press.
The United Front government withdrew the embargo in May 1954 following the coalitions landslide electoral victory.
[2] The military government of General Hussain Mohammed Ershad restored the newspaper to its original owner Hamidul Huq Choudhury in January 1984.