Qazi Shoaib Khan
ATTOCK 28th sep,A well-attended meeting regarding the Attock Press Club building was held at a local hotel, in which journalists associated with national newspapers and news channels participated actively. Addressing the meeting, former General Secretary of Attock Press Club (Registered), Hafiz Shehzad Akhtar, said that the Press Club Restoration Committee, formed in the previous meeting by journalists, has been fulfilling its responsibilities effectively and has been in continuous contact with the administration.
He said that Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza, ADCG Aneel Saeed, Deputy Director Information Shehzad Niaz Khokhar, and AC Anza Abbasi have shown a highly positive approach and made serious efforts to resolve the longstanding issues of journalists, for which all journalists are grateful to them.
The participants said that a Press Club is the identity, dignity, and home of journalists, and its absence is not only a matter of concern for journalists but also a source of embarrassment for the administration. The journalists attending the meeting appreciated the efforts of the Attock administration and the performance of the Restoration Committee and suggested that the committee should continue to work with the administration in the future as well.
Hafiz Shehzad Akhtar said that it is hoped that a decision regarding the building will be announced in the next few days. He added that while differences do exist among journalists, they are only of a principled nature, whereas on the issues of the restoration of the building and transparent elections, all are united. With the decision about the building, an Election Committee will also be formed.
All journalists unanimously demanded that this time, the Press Club elections should be conducted under the supervision of the administration to ensure a transparent and fair process. The participants further said that the upcoming elections will be held strictly in accordance with the constitution and rules of the Press Club. Since the Press Club building has not been with journalists for the past thirteen years and the constitutional framework of the institution has also remained inactive, it is essential that elections be held under the supervision of the administration and that the building be handed over to the newly elected body.
