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

Prominent journalist Kazim Khan was once again elected unopposed as chairman of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) at its annual general meeting held on Saturday on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, while Ayaz Khan was elected as senior vice-chairman.

During the meeting, Ghulam Nabi Chandio was elected general secretary and Tanveer Shaukat deputy general secretary. The announcement was made by the chairman of the electoral committee, Ali Raza Lehri, who congratulated the newly elected members.

The annual general meeting discussed the future of print media, the growing influence of digital platforms and the economic challenges facing the media industry.

Addressing the meeting, Kazim said World Press Freedom Day would be celebrated as a year of “resistance and protection of press freedom in 2026”, adding that “the resistance will start at home”.

He said efforts would be made to combat fake news propagandists, fake newspapers and those who shape discourses in the pay of political parties and institutions.

“Every writer, every speaker and everyone who sits 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 trying to control journalism.

He further said that those who summon journalists to offices and make threats in broad daylight must be resisted.

Meeting participants noted that even as digital media develops rapidly, print media will continue to maintain its position as a credible source of information.

Concerns have also been raised about a sharp reduction in government advertising, which has created financial difficulties for newspapers and magazines. The decline in budgets and advertising share of regional newspapers has been described as a serious problem.

Speakers called on the government to provide subsidies or financial support to the 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 digitalization, including creation of an effective digital platform under the CPNE, expansion of digital reach and adoption of modern technologies.

Participants highlighted the need to counter the growing trend of fake news by promoting credible journalism, calling print and electronic media sources of public trust.

The meeting also discussed organizational reforms, media policy and financial structures, agreeing that CPNE must modernize its strategy according to current challenges.

It was further emphasized that the integration of print and digital media was necessary to build a strong, sustainable and credible media system capable of upholding journalistic standards and promoting democratic values.

A special condolence session was organized in memory of former CPNE General Secretary late Amir Mahmood, during which his services to press freedom and the organization were recognized by his son Taimur Aamir, President Kazim Khan, General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Chandio and other members.

At the end of the meeting, Kazim and Chandio thanked all the 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 office bearers.

Other elected officials

Other elected members 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 appointed as members of the committee, while the two-member arbitration committee includes Chairman Hassan Abbas and member Wazir Zada.