In a historic first, two women journalists were elected to the top leadership positions of the Gilgit Union of Journalists (GUJ). Kiran Qasim and Shereen Karim, both journalists from Gilgit Baltistan who have previously completed Pakistan Press Foundation’s fellowships, were elected as the first-ever female president (Qasim) and vice president (Karim) for the GUJ. Their victory marks a defining milestone for women’s leadership, inclusion, and participation in the media, setting an example for other media bodies in Pakistan to follow.
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) congratulates both Kiran and Shereen, terming their election a landmark moment for women’s representation and media leadership in Pakistan. Their success reflects the growing participation of women journalists in shaping responsible, independent, and inclusive journalism across the country.
Both position holders are alumni of PPF’s fellowship programs. Kiran Qasim completed the Investigative Journalism Fellowship (Batch 10) and Media Safety Fellowship (Batch 6), and Shereen Karim from the Media Safety Fellowship (Batch 3) and Investigative Journalism Fellowship (Batch 7).
The elections for the 2025–2027 term were held on October 4 at the union’s office. Contesting from the Journalists Ittehad Panel, Kiran Qasim secured a clear majority against her rival Zohaib Akhtar of the Working Journalists Panel, while Shereen Karim also won her race with a strong mandate, making it the first time in GUJ’s history that women hold both top offices.
Out of 52 registered voters, 46 members cast their ballots.
According to the official results, Kiran Qasim received 24 votes, while Zohaib Akhtar polls 16 votes, and three ballots were rejected. The election is conducted peacefully and transparently under the supervision of Election Committee Chairman Imtiaz Ali Taj and members Imtiaz Gulab Bugoro and Miraj Alam.
Speaking to PPF, Kiran said that participating in the election as a woman is “no less than a challenge,” but she credits her male colleagues within the Ittehad Panel for standing by her through every stage of the campaign. “My success represents the collective triumph of the journalist community of Gilgit-Baltistan”, she said.
“They supported me through every difficulty, faced challenges head-on, and made this victory possible,” she says. “This success belongs not just to me, but to the entire journalist community — it is a shared achievement built on unity and perseverance.”
Discussing her manifesto, Kiran added that her foremost priority is protecting the rights of working journalists, especially those who work tirelessly in the field but often lack timely pay, professional benefits, and basic facilities.
“The Union will take concrete measures to ensure financial security, professional safety, and fair working conditions for all journalists,” she added.
In her victory speech, Vice President Shereen said the dual victory of women in leadership proves that female journalists can break barriers through professionalism and perseverance.
“This success belongs to every woman journalist who continues to work with courage, credibility, and integrity. Together, we will make journalism in Gilgit-Baltistan more inclusive and secure,” she said.
The newly elected cabinet also includes Senior Vice President Muhammad Zakir, General Secretary Samar Abbas Qaddafi, and Finance Secretary Imran Sher Khan.
