Newly elected body sworn in at PM House; calls for media reforms, journalist welfare, and global attention to detained Kashmiri journalists
Muzaffarabad: Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, administered the oath to the newly elected office-bearers of the Central Press Club Muzaffarabad at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s House.
The prime minister administered the oath to newly elected President Suhail Mughal, Secretary General Shehzad Lollabi, Senior Vice President Naseer Anwar, Vice President Shazeb Afzal, Additional Secretary Chaudhry Khurshid, Joint Secretary Raja Akmal, Finance Secretary Ansar Khawaja, and Information Secretary Syed Tasadduq Shah. He also administered the oath to members of the executive body, including Muhammad Arif Urfi, Abbas Gardezi, Abdul Wajid Khan, Syed Ashfaq Shah, Ishtiaq Ahmed Atish, and Khurram Atta Sheikh.
The ceremony was attended by Secretary Information and IT Muhammad Rashid Hanif, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Aizadar Hussain Shah, Government Spokesperson Shaukat Javed Mir, Director Information Muhammad Bashir Mirza, senior journalists, former office-bearers of the press club, and a large number of civil society representatives. Election Commissioner Khawaja Sarfraz read out the official notification confirming the success of the newly elected office-bearers.
Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Press Foundation, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali, emphasized the need for scrutiny of newspapers in line with modern requirements. He said the digital media policy under consideration should be finalized at the earliest and proposed that health facilities be included in journalists’ accreditation cards. He also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore for his contributions.
In his address, newly elected President of the Central Press Club, Suhail Mughal, thanked the prime minister and described the press club as a representative institution of Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control, whose voice resonates globally.
He said that Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore assumed office during a period of uncertainty and unrest but fulfilled his responsibilities effectively. He noted that the prime minister’s governance style reflects the legacy of his late father, Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, who remains deeply respected among the people.
Suhail Mughal appreciated the prime minister’s steps for opening the Prime Minister’s Office to the public, continuing a tradition set by his father. He also commended recent government initiatives and expressed gratitude for measures taken toward establishing a residential colony for journalists.
He highlighted the challenges faced by journalists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, stating that they continue to perform their professional duties under difficult conditions amid ongoing repression. He called upon international organizations to play their role in securing the release of detained journalists in the region.
The ceremony concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of a free, responsible, and resilient media in promoting democratic values and representing the voice of the people.