Senior journalist M Riaz has been elected president of the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) for 2026 for the sixth time after securing a decisive victory in the club’s annual elections. He obtained 360 votes, defeating rival candidate Anila Shaheen, who received 79 votes.
The elections were contested between the United Journalists Panel and the Journalists Unity Panel. A total of 451 members of the Peshawar Press Club exercised their right to vote in the polling.
According to the results, Ziaul Haq of the United Panel was elected vice president after securing 248 votes. Alamgir Khan was elected general secretary with 227 votes, while Gulzar Muhammad won the position of joint secretary with 224 votes. Irshad Ali of the Journalists Unity Panel was elected finance secretary with 278 votes.
In the elections for the governing body, the United Panel won seven seats, while the Journalists Unity Panel secured three seats.
Following the announcement of the results, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Syed Fakhar Jahan, congratulated the newly elected president M Riaz, general secretary Alamgir Khan, finance secretary Irshad Ali, and all members of the cabinet and governing body. In his congratulatory message, the provincial minister described the Peshawar Press Club as an effective and active forum for the journalistic community, highlighting its role in promoting responsible journalism.
He said that free, responsible, and professional journalism was essential for strengthening a democratic society and enhancing public awareness. The minister expressed hope that the newly elected office-bearers would continue their efforts for the welfare of journalists, improvement of professional capacity, and promotion of journalistic values, while also playing a constructive role in highlighting public issues.
Addressing members after his victory, M Riaz thanked the PPC membership for their support. He said the election results reflected the unity, democratic traditions, and professional ethics of the journalist community.
