Islamabad: A grand reception was hosted in Islamabad in honour of the newly elected President of Ghazi Millat Press Club Rawalakot, Sardar Shafqat Zia. The reception was jointly arranged by President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Afzal Butt, National Press Club Secretary Nayyar Ali, President RIUJ Tariq Warraich, former RIUJ President Abid Abbasi, former RIBJA President Sardar Abdul Hameed, former Finance Secretary, and Governing Body Member AKNS Javed Iqbal Chaudhry.
The reception was held at the National Press Club, Islamabad, and was attended by a large number of senior journalists from the federal capital. Speakers on the occasion warmly congratulated Sardar Shafqat Zia on being elected President of the Rawalakot Press Club for the second consecutive term. They expressed confidence that, as in the past, he would continue to play a key role in resolving the issues faced by journalists in Rawalakot and in promoting the development and strengthening of the press club.
Addressing the gathering, PFUJ President Afzal Butt said that Sardar Shafqat Zia was leading journalists in a district where practicing journalism was extremely challenging. He described Rawalakot as a sensitive and difficult station, where journalists had to perform their professional duties with great patience and responsibility. Afzal Butt assured that he and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists would continue to stand alongside Sardar Shafqat Zia and the journalists of Rawalakot for the resolution of their issues. He termed it a matter of pride that journalists in Rawalakot were united and working together under one platform.
Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Shafqat Zia said that Afzal Butt was not only a leader of journalists across Pakistan but also a true leader and patron of journalists in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He acknowledged that Afzal Butt had always stood with Kashmiri journalists and played a vital role in advocating for the resolution of their problems. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all members of the National Press Club for hosting the reception and formally invited Afzal Butt along with his entire team to visit Rawalakot.
The ceremony was also addressed by Abid Abbasi, Javed Iqbal Chaudhry, Sardar Abdul Hameed, Nayyar Ali, Bashir Usmani, Sehrish Qureshi, and others, who highlighted the importance of unity among journalists and the need to collectively work for press freedom and journalists’ rights.
Senior journalists including Kashif Mir, Vice President National Press Club Shah Muhammad, Naveed Sheikh, Asghar Hayat, Aaj News producer Chaudhry Hamraz, and several others were also present at the reception.
