Free, fair elections beauty of democracy and journey toward improvement: Murad

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday congratulated the newly elected representatives of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on their victory in the annual elections.

Shah congratulated Kazim Khan (the new president of the CPNE), Ayaz Khan (senior vice president), Ghulam Nabi Chandio (secretary general), and Tanveer Shaukat (deputy secretary).

He also extended his congratulations to Hameed Hussain Abidi (finance secretary), Zia Tanoli (information secretary), and vice presidents Qazi Asad Abid, Adnan Zafar, Mian Hassan Ahmed, and Munir Ahmed Baloch.

Joint secretaries Tahir Farooq, Munazza Seham, Rafi Niazi, Arif Baloch, and Waqas Tariq Farooq also received his best wishes.

The CM further congratulated the members appointed to the CPNE Standing Committee, which includes Dr Jabbar Khattak, Maqsood Yousufi, Sher Muhammad Khawer, Sardar Siraj, Mudassar Iqbal, Muhammad Owais Razi, Shehzad Amin, Irfan Athar, Shakeel Ahmed Turabi, Tazeen Akhtar, Anwar Sajdi, Mumtaz Ahmed Sadiq, Faqir Munthar Mangrio, Abdul Rahman Mangrio, Dr. Zubair Mehmood, Masood Khan, Fazal Haq, Zulfiqar Ahmed Rahat, Ali Ahmed Dhillon, Aamir Mehmood, Syed Intizar Hussain Zanjani, Aslam Mian, Hamza Ali Afghan, Ayaz Memon, Mudassar Alam, and Mehmood Alam Khalid.

The chief minister noted that the CPNE has upheld the cause of press freedom since its inception. He acknowledged that May 3 marks World Press Freedom Day. "Free and fair elections are the beauty of democracy and a journey toward improvement," he stated. He praised the CPNE’s role in defending press freedom.

Meanwhile, Sindh Senior Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected office bearers of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) —President Kazim Khan, Senior Vice President Ayaz Khan, Secretary General Ghulam Nabi Chandio, and Deputy Secretary General Tanveer Shaukat — stating that the CPNE is a respected institution that has consistently been at the forefront of promoting journalistic values, freedom of expression, and democratic traditions.

In a statement, the senior minister expressed hope that the newly elected leadership would further energise the institution through their professional insight and experience. e stated that the Sindh government will always stand by journalists in promoting independent journalism and ensuring their protection.