JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 01, 2016
Join our WhatsApp channel
LAHORE - Farrukh Shahbaz Warraich (pictured), columnist of Urdu daily Nai Baat, has been elected president of Pakistan Federal Union of Columnists (PFUC) for 2016 in elections held recently. His panel got 57 votes of member columnists from all over the country while his opponent Khalid Mahmood from Islamabad got 45 votes.
The members of the union who were not present in Lahore on the polling day had the option to cast their votes through their email accounts or cell phone numbers registered with the election commission in advance. They were supposed to send their opinion through email and text messages between 11am and 1pm on the polling day.
The other elected office-bearers include Hafiz Zuhaib Tayyab (Daily Nai Baat) General Secretary, Farid Razzaq (Daily Sama) Secretary, Noorul Huda (Jehan Pakistan) Information Secretary, Sajid Khan (Daily Mashriq) Secretary Coordination, Hafiz Zahid (Daily Jinnah), Finance Secretary and Sudaif Gilani (Daily Sama) Joint Secretary.
PFUC which has a membership strength of 116 at the moment was established on January 1, 2013 with an aim to provide a platform to columnists and bloggers where they can interact with each other and enhance their knowledge and professional skills. Using this platform, they can discuss important topics in a professional way and adopt a research-based approach while writing for their respective organizations.
PFUC organizes training workshops for the professional growth of member columnists and strives to establish linkages between budding columnists and media houses that can publish their work, says the newly elected president. He adds welfare of the members is on top of the agenda of PFUC which is working on forming partnerships with different organizations to facilitate them in education, research, exposure trips, health service delivery etc.
The PFUC president clarifies that all the activities of the union are self-financed and the members have to pay an annual fee of Rs1,000. The application form and details on eligibility criteria can be downloaded from the website www.pfuc.org.
Professor Dr Ajmal Niazi (Columnist, Daily Nawa e Waqt), Hafiz Shafiqur Rehman (Joint Editor, Daily Nai Baat), Muhamamd Ather Khurram (CEO, Media Network International), Tayyba Zia Cheema (Columnist, Daily Nawa e Waqt), Orya Maqbool Jan (Columnist, Daily Dunya ), Altaf Hussain Qureshi (Columnist, Daily Jang) and Sajjad Mir (Columnist, Daily Nai Baat) are on the advisory board of PFUC.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.