On January 28, Asif Bashir Chaudhry elected as President of the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) alongside other office bearers, all of whom were elected unopposed. The announcement was made at the National Press Club where the annual election results for 2026 were declared.
In addition to Chaudhry, the RIUJ elected Tauseef Abbasi and Rashid Malik as Vice Presidents, Bashir Usmani as General Secretary, and Izhar Khan Niazi as Finance Secretary. Raja Imran Janjua and Rana Farhan Aslam have been chosen as Joint Secretaries. The Executive Council now includes members Ayesha Naz, Ali Akhtar, Nawabzada Shah Ali, Shehzad Rajput, Hameed Abbasi, Asad Sharar, Ghufran Chishti, Noor Eman Zehra, Ejaz Ahmad Fikri, and Dost Muhammad.
Former RIUJ President Tariq Ali Vark congratulated the new office bearers, emphasizing the significant responsibilities that come with their positions. He remarked on the importance of service and integrity in their roles, expressing confidence in their commitment to uphold the union’s traditions of courage and honesty.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, also extended his congratulations to the newly elected officials. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to protecting freedom of expression and the independence of journalism.
Tarar underscored the critical role of media organizations in promoting democratic values and assured ongoing support for the welfare and capacity building of media professionals.
Secretary Information Ashfaq Ahmad Khalil and Principal Information Officer Mobashir Hassan joined in congratulating the RIUJ’s new leadership, expressing hope for their effective role in advocating for journalists’ rights and strengthening the organization.
