Journalist Panel wins big in NPC polls marred by rowdyism

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 5 January 2016

The Journalist Panel won the National Press Club elections amid significant disruptions from the rival Jago Panel. The elections were marked by a chaotic atmosphere that prevented many from voting.
Summary

ISLAMABAD: True to reputation Journalist Panel swept Monday's National Press Club elections marred by rowdyism and takeover of a polling station by members of rival Jago Panel.

Polling at one of the two stations remained suspended for nearly three hours after slogan-chanting Jago supporters stormed it alleging fake votes were cast and objecting to the voters' list. They broke tables and chairs, their misconduct putting the entire local journalist fraternity to shame. Never before were such unruly scenes witnessed in press club polls.

However, the election committee headed by Nasir Zaidi made up for lost time by extending the polling beyond the scheduled 8.30pm close and switching to the other station. Many press club members were unable to cast their votes because of the chaos. Out of 3373 total voters, 1630 votes were polled.

Shakeel Anjum (pictured) became the new president with 787 votes defeating Ataur Rehman Tahir (352) and Abdul Qayum Siddiqui representing Jago (248).

Imran Yaqub Dhilon polled 823 votes to emerge as the new secretary routing Matiullah Jan (420).

Others elected were: Vice presidents: Naveed Akbar (862), Asif Bhatti (835), Ibrahim Kumbhar (661) and Nazia Tohid Mustafa (705, woman's seat).

Finance Secretary: M. Ishaque Chaudhry

Joint Secretaries: Malik Iqbal (880), Mohsin Ijaz (814), Amanullah Khan (793) and Shakila Jalil (739, women's seat).

Meanwhile, the election committee was to announce the successful members of the governing body on Tuesday.

Key Points

Journalist Panel wins NPC elections
Polling disrupted by Jago Panel protests
Shakeel Anjum elected as new president
Low voter turnout with 1630 out of 3373 votes cast
Election committee extended polling time due to chaos

Relevant Topics

NPC Elections

Journalist Panel

Jago Panel

Shakeel Anjum

Election Results

Islamabad

Ask AI: Understand this story your way

AI Enabled

Dig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.

Language

Format

Tone

Audience

Focus

Reading level

Length

The AI generates results based on your selected options

Your AI-generated results will appear here after you click the button.

Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.

Don't Miss These

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

April 19, 2026: Pakistan's media faced regulatory scrutiny, leadership changes and digital consolidation, highlighting industry stress and rising international recognition.

Five stories showing pressure on Pakistan media

April 13, 2026: Five incidents show growing legal, economic and state pressure on Pakistan's media, from cybercrime cases and opaque ads to layoffs and access constraints.

A global story, locally missing: Pakistan media under scrutiny

April 12, 2026: Pakistan's media received global attention during Iran-US talks in Islamabad but mostly ran agency tickers and official optics, exposing gaps in beat reporting.

Islamabad Talks: Access is the first casualty of journalism

April 12, 2026: As US-Iran talks in Islamabad concluded, journalists reported that tight security and enforced perimeters limited direct access and source engagement, constraining real-time reporting.

Pakistan journalists flag access issues at Iran-US talks

April 11, 2026: Pakistani journalists say they faced restricted access and unequal accreditation at Iran-US diplomatic events, citing limited communication by media teams.

Pakistan opens visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists

April 10, 2026: Pakistan will allow visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists and delegates attending the Islamabad Talks 2026; local media reportedly face restrictions on live reporting.

Pakistan assembly queries on ad spending go unanswered

April 07, 2026: Lawmakers received no answers from Pakistan's Information Ministry on media ad spending, raising concerns over transparency in allocation of public funds.

Pakistan journalist health scheme sees low uptake

April 07, 2026: A government health insurance scheme for journalists recorded low uptake, with only 187 of 4,537 enrolled media workers accessing benefits since July 2024.

Newsroom

Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns

April 21, 2026 Kash Patel's defamation suit against The Atlantic has intensified scrutiny of legal pressures on journalists and raised concerns about press freedom.

Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics

April 20, 2026 Irshad Bhatti's podcast interview with actor Meera drew criticism after he pressed personal topics and Meera walked out, sparking debate over media accountability.

One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media

April 20, 2026 Dan Qayyum's viral article drew one million views in days, igniting debate about independent creators' reach and what it means for Pakistan's newsrooms.

Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress

April 19, 2026 Across Asia, journalists faced growing legal pressure, expanded surveillance and attacks on media outlets, even as a key appointment boosted gender diversity.

Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism

April 19, 2026 Slow news days give journalists time to verify facts, pursue in-depth reporting, and reduce errors, strengthening overall newsroom accuracy and long-form storytelling.