Sahiwal Press Club Elections After 15 Years: Democratic Group Wins
By Shahbaz Afzal
Sahiwal: The annual elections of Sahiwal Press Club were held after 15 years, with the Democratic Journalists Group emerging victorious. The journalist community participated enthusiastically in the elections, which are being celebrated as a triumph for working journalists’ rights.
In the most significant win, Democratic Journalists Group’s candidate for Vice President, Javed Shoukat Vaince, secured 57 votes, defeating his opponent Naveed Ahmed Kharl, who received 45 votes. For the position of Second Vice President, Mian Waseem Riaz won with 55 votes, while Mirza Khalid Nadeem managed 47 votes.
For the General Secretary position, Naveed Ghani Chaudhry of the Democratic Journalists Group triumphed with 54 votes, defeating Progressive Group’s Mehr Muhammad Abbas, who received 48 votes. Joint Secretary Mian Muhammad Ramzan won with 53 votes against Wilson Raza, who secured 48 votes. Finance Secretary Rao Muhammad Atiq claimed victory with 56 votes, while his opponent Shahid Rafiq managed only 44 votes.
The contest for the Presidency ended in a tie, with Hafiz Waheed Ahmed and Naeem Sheikh each securing 50 votes. A re-election for the President’s position has been announced.
Celebrating a Historic Victory
Leaders of the Democratic Journalists Group, including Syed Shafqat Hussain Gilani, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, and Imtiaz Ahmad Butt, expressed their joy over this landmark victory. They hailed it as a step toward restoring the dignity of working journalists and defeating elitist practices.
Revival of Elections After 15 Years
The elections marked a historic moment for Sahiwal Press Club, where no elections had been held for the past 15 years due to limited membership. Instead, positions were distributed internally among a few individuals. However, the newly formed Democratic Journalists Group, led by young leader Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, initiated a membership drive and successfully revived the election process. Inspired by this move, Aziz-ul-Haq Goraya and former president Rana Javed Nisar formed the Progressive Group and contested the elections.
Intense Competition and Enthusiasm
The elections witnessed fierce competition, with the journalist community actively participating. Many journalists cast their votes for the first time and celebrated the victory of their preferred candidates with great enthusiasm. This election is seen as a new chapter for addressing the issues faced by journalists and ensuring their representation in decision-making processes.
