ISLAMABAD,(Parliament Times): The final results of the annual election of the Rawalpindi / Islamabad Bureau Journalists Association (RIBJA) were announced here on Tuesday.
A press release issued by the Chairman Election Committee Mr. Mehboob ur Rehman Tanoli said, “All the candidates including the RIBJA President Sardar Shoukat Mahmood, Secretary General Ghulam Murtaza Malik have been declared elected unopposed after rival candidates in the contest withdrew their nomination papers”.
Those elected unopposed included Sardar Shaukat Mahmood President, Ghulam Murtaza Malik General Secretary, Vice Presidents Shaukat Ali Satti, Sardar Nisar Tabassam, Syed Zahir Kazmi and Malik Asif Iqbal, Joint Secretary Arshad Ali Yousafzai, Razziq Mahmood Bhatti, Amir Lashari and Atique Khan. , Secretary Information Mohammad Mohsin Mubasher and Finance Secretary Fayaz Chaudhry.
Whereas, Mukhtar Pirzada, Asiya Umair, Ijaz Abbasi, Jawad Akbar, Malik Siddique Awan, Shoaib Bhatta, Malik Khalid Awan, Noman Sadiq, Mansoor Zafar, Ayaz Asturi, Arif Janjua, Muneeb Islam Bukhari, Babar Hussain, Raza. Khan Bangash, Nazia Altaf, Waqar Ahmed, Zahid Korai, Moin Arif, Waqar Chaudhry, Maqsood Ahmad and Haji Dawood Ahmad Syed Khawar Abbas Shah and Chaudhry Irfan Khatana were elected as members of the governing body.
Speaking on the occasion newly elected President Sardar Shaukat Mahmood said that he was grateful to his colleagues who reposed their full confidence and trust on him. Mr. Mahmood said that the members of the RIBJA were under severe economic pressure at the moment. He said that in consultation with the newly elected members of the Association a future strategy will be formulated to take them out of the crisis and despondency. He said that all out efforts would be made for the protection of the legitimate rights of every member of the RIBJA. He said that regional newspapers and the journalists affiliated with them will have to move beyond a mutual alliance to safeguard their rights. Sardar Shoukat Mahmood announced that a meeting of the general body would be convened immediately and after consultation with all members of the organization. General Secretary Ghulam Murtaza Malik said, “We know how to defend the rights of all members of our organization. We will not hesitate in making any sacrifice in this regard”.
