CPNE elects Kazim Khan unopposed as president, flags press freedom concerns

Prominent journalist Kazim Khan was once again elected unopposed as president of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) during its annual general meeting held on the eve of World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, while Ayaz Khan was elected senior vice president. During the meeting, Ghulam Nabi Chandio was elected general secretary and Tanveer Shaukat deputy general secretary. The announcement was made by election committee chairman Ali Raza Lehri, who congratulated the newly elected members. The annual general meeting discussed the future of print media, the expanding influence of digital platforms and the economic challenges facing the media industry. 1-روزنامہ دنیا کے ایگزیکٹو ایڈیٹر کاظم خان سی پی این ای کے صدر منتخب ہو گئے ۔ روزنامہ پاک سندھ کے ایڈیٹر غلام نبی خان چانڈیو سیکرٹری جنرل منتخب ۔ 2-سال 27-2026 کو “ مزاحمت “ کا سال قرار دینے کا اعلان۔ صدر سی پی این ای 3- جس صحافت نے عزت دی آج اسکی عزت خطرے میں ہے ۔ کاظم خان 4-… pic.twitter.com/HjEmp4mEwk — Kazam Khan (@presidentCPNE) May 2, 2026 Addressing the meeting, Kazim said World Press Freedom Day would be observed as a year of “resistance and protection of press freedom in 2026”, adding that “resistance will begin at home”. He said efforts would be made to counter fake news propagandists, dummy newspapers and those shaping narratives on the payroll of political parties and institutions. “Every writer, every speaker, and everyone sitting in front of a camera is not a journalist. Journalism that once gave respect is now under threat,” he said, adding that powerful forces were attempting to control journalism. He further said those summoning journalists to offices and issuing threats in broad daylight must be resisted. Participants of the meeting noted that although digital media was expanding rapidly, print media would continue to retain its position as a credible and documentary source. Concerns were also raised over a sharp reduction in government advertising, which has created financial difficulties for newspapers and magazines. The decline in budgets and advertising share for regional newspapers was described as a serious issue. Speakers called on the government to provide subsidies or financial support to print media, ensure fair distribution of advertisements, restore quotas for regional newspapers and formulate a clear and transparent media policy. Suggestions were also made regarding digitalisation, including the establishment of an effective digital platform under CPNE, expansion of digital reach and adoption of modern technology. Participants stressed the need to counter the growing trend of fake news by promoting credible journalism, calling both print and electronic media a source of public trust. The meeting also discussed organisational reforms, media policy and financial structures, agreeing that CPNE must modernise its strategy in line with current challenges. It was further emphasised that integrating print and digital media was necessary to build a strong, sustainable and credible media system to uphold journalistic standards and promote democratic values. A special condolence session was held in memory of former CPNE secretary general late Amir Mahmood, where his services to press freedom and the organisation were acknowledged by his son Taimur Aamir, President Kazim Khan, Secretary General Ghulam Nabi Chandio and other members. At the conclusion of the meeting, Kazim and Chandio thanked all participants and appreciated the services of the CPNE secretariat staff. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated the new officebearers. صدرِ مملکت کی صحافتی تنظیم کاؤنسل آف نیوز پیپرز ایڈیٹرز کے نو منتخب صدر کاظم خان، سیکریٹری جنرل غلام نبی چانڈیو، سینئر نائب صدر ایاز خان، نائب صدور شکیل احمد ترابی اور انور ساجدی، سیکریٹری اطلاعات منزہ سہام سمیت دیگر عہدیداران کو مبارکباد۔ صحافتی اقدار، حقائق پر مبنی رپورٹنگ اور… pic.twitter.com/pgqSzqCb3L — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 2, 2026 وزیراعظم کا صدر کاظم خان، سیکریٹری جنرل غلام نبی چانڈیو، سینئر نائب صدر ایاز خان، نائب صدور شکیل احمد ترابی اور انور ساجدی، سیکریٹری اطلاعات منزہ سہام سمیت دیگر عہدیداران کے لیے نیک تمناؤں کا اظہار آزاد، ذمہ دار اور باخبر میڈیا جمہوری معاشرے کا بنیادی ستون ہے، امید ہے سی پی… pic.twitter.com/AsDxrVl6xe — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 2, 2026 وزیراعلی مریم نواز شریف کی سینئر نائب صدر ایاز خان، نائب صدور شکیل احمد ترابی سیکریٹری جنرل غلام نبی چانڈیواور دیگر کے لیے نیک تمنائیں امید ہے سی پی این ای کے نو منتخب عہدیدار آزاد، ذمہ دارانہ صحافتی اقدار کے لئے بھرپور کردار ادا کریں گے. سی پی این ای قیادت سے قومی مفاد… pic.twitter.com/6OZ9RXBiNe — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 2, 2026 Other elected office-bearers Other elected office-bearers include Arif Baloch as finance secretary and Manzah Saham as information secretary. Regional vice presidents were also elected: Qazi Asad Abid (Sindh), Shakeel Turabi (Rawalpindi/Islamabad), Mian Ahmad Hassan (Punjab), Tahir Farooq (Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa) and Anwar Sajdi (Balochistan). The joint secretaries include Munir Baloch (Balochistan), Maqsood Yousufi (Sindh), Tanveer Siddiqui (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), Babar Nizami (Punjab) and Yahya Sadozai (Rawalpindi/Islamabad). Other members of the standing committee include Hamid Hussain Abadi, Sardar Muhammad Siraj, Sher Muhammad Khawand, Abdul Rehman Mangrio, Zia Tanoli, Mudassar Iqbal, Shehzad Amin, Irfan Athar, Zulfiqar Ahmed Rahat, Abdul Salam Bhatt, Mumtaz Ahmed Sadiq, Faqir Manthar Mangrio, Ayaz Ali Memon, Nisar Khattak, Akmal Chauhan, Dr Zubair Mehmood, Masood Khan, Fazl Haq, Ali Ahmed Dhillon, Abdul Khaliq Ali, Taimur Aamir, Syed Intizar Hussain Zanjani, Mian Aslam, Hamza Ali Afghan and Mehmood Alam Khalid. Bilal Aslam and Obaid Aleem were also named as committee members, while the two-member arbitration committee comprises chairman Hassan Abbas and member Wazir Zada.

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