Mubarak Ali, chief editor of Khyber News, has been elected to the executive committee of the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AMEND) for the third consecutive time. The result came in the latest AMEND elections, where Azhar Abbas was chosen as president and Tariq Mehmood as general secretary.
The results were announced after the general council met in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
AMEND Elections: Full List of Office-Bearers
Muhammad Usman and Mian Tahir were elected vice presidents. Rehan Ahmed and Nadeem Jamal will serve as joint secretaries, and Shahab Mehmood was chosen as finance secretary.
The general council also elected the other members of the executive committee. Along with Mubarak Ali, they are Zahid Mazhar, Masoom Rizvi, Mohsin Raza, Kamran Lashari, Humayun Saleem, Muhammad Noshad and Razzaq Sarohi.
Council Raises Alarm Over Press Freedom in Pakistan
The general council expressed serious concern over the worsening state of press freedom in Pakistan. It pointed to the growing use of government powers and state institutions to restrict independent journalism.
Members also objected to the misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and to the actions of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The council criticized the irresponsible conduct of some YouTubers, saying they push personal or political agendas under the cover of journalism. At the same time, it said the behavior of a few individuals gives no justification for placing restrictions on the entire media.
What Comes Next for AMEND
The general council decided that the new executive committee will hold a detailed discussion on the country’s overall media situation. After that meeting, the association will announce its official position on the issue.
