PESHAWAR: Syed Bukhar Shah Bacha has been elected president and Zafar Iqbal general secretary of the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) for the session 2019.

According to the results announced by the election committee chairman Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Bukhar Shah got 159 votes, followed by his rival candidates Yousuf Ali 103 votes, Arif Yousufzai 88 votes and Irfan Musazai 33 votes.

Zafar Iqbal was elected general secretary by obtaining 127 votes, Anila Shaheen vice-president, Sibtain Bukhari joint secretary and Jamil Mohmand finance secretary.

Of the winners, the president, finance secretary and joint secretary contested the election from the Progressive Panel, while the general secretary and vice-president were from the Democratic Panel.

The newly-elected governing body members included Nasir Hussain who obtained 149 votes, Mehmood Jan Babar 137 votes, Asif Nisar Ghayasi 133 votes, Ihtesham Khan 132 votes, Alamgir Khan 129 votes, Riaz Daudzai 119 votes, Ihtesham Turo 116 votes, Kashifuddin Syed 112 votes, Umair Yasir 110 votes and Shehzada Fahd 109 votes.

Of the 10 governing body seats, five were grabbed by the Progressive Panel, two by Democratic Panel, two by Journalists Unity and one by Journalists Forum. For the first time, four panels contested the election and most of the members polled their votes.

Meanwhile, PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam, Ikhtiar Wali Khan, Ms Farah Khan advocate, Ms Shaheen Habibullah and Jamaat-i-Islami MPA Inayatullah Khan visited the press club and congratulated the newly-elected office-bearers. In a statement, Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan also congratulated the new PPC office-bearers.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2018