DNA
Islamabad: March 14, 2026 — Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), has extended her heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected office bearers of the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad following their recent elections.
In her message, Senator Rubina Khalid specifically congratulated Abdul Razzaq Sial on his election as President and Rao Furqan (Dr. Furqan Rao) on becoming the elected Secretary. She also felicitated Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi, Vice Presidents Usman Khan, Bashir Chaudhry, and Ihtisham-ul-Haq, as well as Joint Secretaries Awn Sherazi, Sheraz Gardazi, and Javed Bhagat.
She further congratulated Sahrish Qureshi on her election as Vice President (Women) and Shakeela Jalil on becoming the elected Joint Secretary (Women).Senator Rubina Khalid emphasized the vital role of a free and strong press in strengthening democracy, stating: “A free and strong journalism is the strength of democracy.
“She acknowledged the journalist community’s significant contribution to promoting democratic values and expressed hope that the new leadership would effectively address the issues faced by journalists.”Journalists are playing an important role in advancing democratic values,” she said, adding, “It is hoped that the new leadership will resolve the problems of journalists.
“The National Press Club elections, held recently, marked a notable shift as the Democrats Panel secured key positions, including the presidency and secretaryship, ending the long-standing dominance of the Journalist Panel in the club’s affairs.
Senator Rubina Khalid’s message underscores the importance of independent media in Pakistan’s democratic framework and highlights cross-institutional support for the newly elected NPC body.
