Pakistan Press Club UK 2014 Elections Hosted by FIRD

(June 20, 20140 – Pakistan Press Club UK 2014 Elections Hosted by FIRD

The sixth annual election of Pakistan Press Club UK (PPCUK) took place at the Forum for International Relations Development (FIRD) Secretariat in London on Friday, 20^th June 2014. Following the immense success of the 2013 elections, Mr Toaha Qureshi MBE, Chairman FIRD, was requested to oversee the proceedings as the Chief Election Commissioner for the second year running at FIRD Secretariat. He was assisted by a number of dignitaries including Lord Nazir Ahmed (Member of the House of Lords), Councilor Stephen Alambritis (Leader, Merton Council), Barrister Sibghatullah Qadri (first Muslim QC) and Mr Asim Khan, (President, PTI, UK) among others.

The elections were conducted in a professional and organized manner with all the voters required to sign their ballots and commit to voting in privacy behind a cover to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process. The voting proceedings started at 6.00 pm and ran until 7.45 pm.

Mr Umar Mahmood, fellow FIRD, was responsible for verification and counting of votes during the process. Those with the highest votes were elected at the relevant posts and those with the least votes were eliminated. This year, the only posts to be contested were for a place on the executive committee and for the joint secretary.

As soon as voting and counting concluded, results were announced in a ceremony; people from all over the UK were in attendance including members of the Pakistan High Commission, local community, local businesses etc. Positions in the PPC include President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Secretary General, Joint Secretary, Information Secretary, Finance Secretary and members of the executive committee.

Those elected unopposed were:

1-     Mr Fayyaz Ghafoor – President, third year running.

2-     Mr Arshad Rachyal & Mr Shaukat Dar – Vice Presidents

3-     Mr Azhar Javaid – Secretary General

4-     Mr Aftab Baig – Finance Secretary

5-     Mr Mussarat Iqbal – Information Secretary

The posts for which the elections had to be contested through voting included Joint Secretary and Members of Executive Committee. Mr Nasim Siddqui secured his place as the Joint Secretary by acquiring 18 out of 29 votes. Members elected for the Executive Committee, included; Mr Akram Abid, Mr Hasnain Bayar, Mr Imran Khalid, Mr Adeel Khan, Mr Waheed Ahmed and Mr Fayaz Bashir.

The participants and the contestants, while thanking the organizers, called the event a huge success as well as a reason for bringing the Pakistani journalistic community together on one platform.

My Ghafoor, the elected President, thanked the voters for supporting him for a third year and promised to make things bigger and better for next year; as well as commended FIRD and Mr Toaha Qureshi for organizing the whole event. Mr Ghafoor, COO of ARY (UK), also called it a happy and a sad day, as his sadness was marked by the ban of the ARY network. He said that ARY will seek redress on this issue through the relevant quarters.

Mr Qadri appreciated the elections and its outcome, saying it helped to promote better standards of the media. During his address, he condemned the ban on ARY network as according to him it was a clear violation of freedom of speech.

Mr Khan said he was very impressed by the conduct of the elections and was also going through election period for his party, therefore understanding the need for professionalism and fairness. He also said that the media should continue its role in supporting equality and justice.

Mr Javaid, Secretary General, thanked the organisers and chief guests for always taking the time in supporting the endeavors of the Pakistani community in the UK.

Mr Alambritis said it was a pleasure to be part of such an activity as he was also once a member of the National Union of Journalists and share a kinship with the Pakistan Press Club. As Leader of Merton Council, he had just participated in the local election voting process and it had been very similar to that, although much quicker.

Lord Ahmed called the elections a positive event for the British Pakistani community. He was also clear in his condemnation of ARY or any media network, but also advised the media to follow a certain code of conduct to be above reproach.

In the final address for the event, Mr Qureshi congratulating the winners, and motivating the runner ups for the next elections, said that it is extremely important for this process to continue since it helps the development of the Press Club. As Chairman of Friends of PPCUK for the last three years, he wished every success for the coming years. A resolution during the session was passed to condemn the banning of the ARY channel by the authorities.