Hyderabad Union of Journalists (Workers) elects new office-bearers for2026

Sanghar (Hasnain Ashiq Saand) The annual elections of the Hyderabad Union of Journalists (Workers) for the year 2026 were held here, resulting in the unanimous election of new office-bearers representing various media organisations.

According to the election results, Bol TV in-charge Irfan Arain was elected president, senior journalist Ashiq Hussain Saand senior vice-president, Mehran Tribune’s Imran Malik vice-president, Daily Jang’s Amjad Islam general secretary, Abb Takk TV bureau chief Sajid Hussain Arain finance secretary, News One’s Rana Hambal joint secretary, and Neo News’ Asif Sheikh information secretary.

Members elected to the governing body include senior journalist Mujeeb Rehman Shaikh, Sindh Akhbar’s Aftab Rind, Aman Akhbar’s Ghulam Qadir Tausefi, KTN’s Mubeen Magsi, Abb Takk TV’s Usama Koti, ABN’s Adeel Abbasi, Sindh Express’ Shabbir Nizamani and Naya Baat newspaper’s photographer Yameen Qureshi.

The oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected office-bearers was held at a local club and was attended by leaders of various journalists’ unions, including Shaheed Benazirabad Union of Journalists (Workers) president Bilal Qureshi, Matiari Union of Journalists (Workers) president Abdul Ghafoor Memon, Thatta Union of Journalists (Workers) president Javed Latif Memon, Badin Union of Journalists (Workers) president Murta­za Memon, Sanghar Union of Journalists (Workers) representative Zafar Lodhi, and Tando Adam Union of Journalists leader Mumtaz Tamimi, among others.

Addressing the ceremony, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Workers) central president Dr Sadia Kamal, PFUJ Workers senior vice-president Nasir Sheikh, RIUJ (Workers) general secretary Hamidullah Abid, Imran Patoli and Ashiq Hussain Saand highlighted the challenges faced by journalists across the country. They said media professionals were confronting severe financial and security issues, including delayed payment of salaries for months, despite continuing to perform their professional duties under difficult circumstances.

The speakers called upon the government and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to link the release of government advertisements with the timely payment of salaries and dues of journalists, media workers and cameramen. They also criticised what they described as the dominance of select groups in several press clubs across Sindh and the country, alleging that genuine journalists were being denied membership while favoured individuals were accommodated.