Islamabad,(Parliament Times):Senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM), Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has congratulated the newly elected body of the National Press Club Islamabad and extended his best wishes to its office bearers on assuming their responsibilities.
In a statement issued today, Bhat appreciated the leadership and election committee of the National Press Club for conducting transparent, democratic and peaceful elections, stating that the process reflects the maturity and commitment of the journalist community towards democratic values and institutional integrity.
He congratulated the newly elected office bearers including Abdul Razzaq Sial (President), Dr. Furqan Rao (Secretary), Abid Abbasi (Finance Secretary), Vice Presidents Ehteshamul Haq, Bashir Chaudhry and Usman Khan, and Vice President (Female) Sehrish Qureshi on their success and wished them a productive tenure in serving the journalist community. ?
Altaf Ahmed Bhat expressed hope that the new leadership would actively address the challenges faced by journalists, safeguard their professional rights, and continue strengthening the role of the National Press Club as a representative institution of Pakistan’s media community.
*He also highlighted the historic role played by the National Press Club Islamabad in raising the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at national and international levels. Bhat noted that the club has repeatedly served as a strong platform where journalists, civil society members, and Kashmiri representatives have highlighted the plight of the Kashmiri people.*
“The National Press Club has often stood as a fortress for the Kashmir cause,” Bhat said, recalling that the club played a significant role in highlighting critical developments such as the Amarnath Shrine Board land controversy, the martyrdom of Burhan Wani, and the grave situation that emerged after 5 August 2019 when India revoked Articles 370 and 35A in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He expressed confidence that the newly elected leadership would continue this tradition by ensuring that the voice of the Kashmiri people and other pressing human rights issues remain part of national and global media discourse.
Altaf Ahmed Bhat concluded by wishing the newly elected body success in their responsibilities and expressed hope that the National Press Club Islamabad would continue to serve as a vibrant platform for independent journalism, democratic dialogue, and the protection of journalists’ rights.