JAP South Punjab Chapter Expands to 16 Press Clubs as More Than 200 Journalists Attend Oath Ceremony at Uch Sharif

PFUJ Workers President Dr Sadia Kamal attends as chief guest, appreciates JAP’s initiative for the Saraiki belt; while Founder Journalists Alliance Pakistan Ehsan Ahmed Sehar chairs the grand oath taking ceremony of newly elected office bearers and take oath

UCH SHARIF, October 27, 2026: More than 200 journalists from rural areas and towns of South Punjab attended the oath-taking ceremony of the Journalists Alliance Pakistan (JAP) — Rural & Town Press Clubs, South Punjab Chapter — at Al-Abbas Marriage Hall in Uch Sharif on Tuesday. With the joining of two additional press clubs from Muzaffargarh district, the chapter’s membership has increased to 16 press clubs.

JAP is a joint initiative of Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpursharqia and Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP), bringing together rural and town press clubs to promote professional cooperation and address the concerns of journalists working outside major urban media centres.

The ceremony was chaired by JAP Founder and Media Adviser Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, while Dr Sadia Kamal, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Workers) and former senior vice-president of the National Press Club, Islamabad, attended as chief guest. She travelled from Islamabad at Sehar’s invitation.

Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, Founder and Media Adviser of Journalists Alliance Pakistan, Dr Sadia Kamal, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Workers), professor  Dr Muhammad Shehzad Rana, Makhdoomzada Syed Umar Raza Gilani and Makhdoom Syed Nasir Hussain Bukhari pose on stage during the JAP South Punjab Chapter oath-taking ceremony in Uch Sharif on October 27, 2026.

Dr Sadia Kamal appreciates JAP’s initiative

Addressing the gathering, Dr Sadia Kamal appreciated the initiative to unite rural and town press clubs through a common platform. As someone who also hails from the Saraiki belt, she recognised the importance of strengthening journalists and media organisations in the region, where reporters often work with limited resources and fewer opportunities for professional development.

She emphasised that press freedom and journalists’ safety must remain national priorities. She called for fair and transparent implementation of laws, effective action against harassment, and independent and effective mechanisms to protect journalists.

Dr Sadia also highlighted the need to address the economic and professional challenges confronting regional journalists, including timely payment of salaries, safe working environments and access to modern journalism training. She urged journalistic organisations to cooperate beyond institutional differences, noting that strong journalism requires professionals who are trained, safe, empowered and economically secure.

Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, Founder and Media Adviser of Journalists Alliance Pakistan (JAP), delivers his address at the oath-taking ceremony of the JAP South Punjab Chapter in Uch Sharif on October 27, 2026.

Ehsan Ahmed Sehar highlights rural journalists’ challenges

In his presidential address, Ehsan Ahmed Sehar discussed the responsibilities that accompany the oath and the difficulties faced by journalists working in rural Pakistan. He highlighted limited resources, inadequate training opportunities, professional pressures and the need for stronger institutional support for district correspondents and local reporters.

Sehar called for an independent and effective Commission for the Protection of Journalists, stronger safeguards for press freedom and a serious review of issues affecting journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). He also raised concerns about the role of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), cyber-patrolling, internet shutdowns and their implications for journalism and freedom of expression.

He stressed that the rights and economic security of media workers must not be overlooked. Media organisations, he said, should ensure timely salaries, better working conditions and opportunities for professional development. He also underlined the need for practical training in digital journalism, artificial intelligence, mobile journalism, information verification and online safety.

Sehar criticised the performance of different factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), including the organisation led by the chief guest, and called on journalists’ representative bodies to respond more effectively to the problems of working journalists. He also criticised media-house management and publishers over their treatment of journalists and media workers.

He concluded his speech with poetry by the renowned journalist and writer late Asghar Shorish Kashmiri, reinforcing his appeal for principled journalism and greater commitment to the profession.

Shield of appreciation presented to Dr Sadia Kamal; families of eight late journalists receive memorial awards

At the end of the oath-taking ceremony, following Ehsan Ahmed Sehar’s address, the JAP South Punjab Chapter presented a shield of appreciation to Dr Sadia Kamal, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Workers), in recognition of her services in defending press freedom and her struggle for journalists’ rights. The shield was presented by Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, Founder and Media Adviser of Journalists Alliance Pakistan.

On the same occasion, the registered Uchsharif Press & Media Club presented memorial awards to the heirs of eight late journalists in recognition of their contributions and services to journalism. Among the late journalists honoured were Taj Muhammad Rajput, Rasool Bakhsh Nasim, Haji Amir Bakhsh Saeedi and Gulzar Hussain Warraich. The memorial awards were presented by the Uchsharif Press & Media Club, independently of the JAP South Punjab Chapter’s shield presentation.

Two more press clubs join JAP

The JAP South Punjab Chapter welcomed two additional press clubs from Muzaffargarh district: Jhugi Wala Press Club and Khangarh Doima Press Club. Their inclusion followed the initiative of JAP South Punjab Co-Chairman Rana Zulfiqar Ali.

With these additions, the chapter now represents 16 rural and town press clubs across South Punjab, extending its network of cooperation among journalists and local press organisations.

Office-bearers of the Journalists Alliance Pakistan (JAP) South Punjab Chapter stand in line for the oath-taking ceremony in Uch Sharif on October 27, 2026. The ceremony brought together representatives of rural and town press clubs from across South Punjab.

Office-bearers take oath

The following JAP South Punjab Chapter office-bearers took oath at the ceremony:

• Patron: Iftikhar Ahmed Alvi (Samasata)
• Co-Chairmen: Irshad Ahmed Shad (Uch Sharif) and Rana Zulfiqar Ali (Shehr Sultan)
• General Secretary: Rana Muhammad Qasim (Khanbela)
• Chief Organizer: Shahid Bashir Chaudhry (Chani Goth)
• Chief Coordinator: Faraz Haider Khan (Mubarakpur)
• Senior Vice Chairman: Muhammad Arabi Abbasi (Tranda Muhammad Panah)
• Vice Presidents: Syed Liaquat Ali Rizvi (Hatheji), Malik Asif Awan (Nowshera Jadeed) and Imam Bakhsh Bhatti (Musafir Khana)
• Additional General Secretaries: Muhammad Abu Bakr Rongha (Hatheji), Ghulam Murtaza Chaudhry (Khanqah Sharif), Inam-us-Sattar Khan Mustoi (Tranda Muhammad Panah) and Ehsan-ul-Haq Siddiqui (Khanbela)
• Secretary Coordination: Hameedullah Khan Aziz (Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpursharqia)
• Deputy Secretaries General: Muhammad Khizr Abbas (Nowshera Jadeed), Ejaz Ahmed Khan (Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpursharqia) and Rana Haroon Abbas (Janpur)
• Finance Secretary: Rashid Mehmood Chanar (Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpursharqia)

Muhammad Suleman Farooqi, Director of Punjab College Ahmedpur East, who had previously been nominated Chairman of the 21-member JAP Steering Committee, also took oath at the ceremony. Syed Tanveer-ul-Hassan Bukhari and Muhammad Ejaz Pathan took oath as the committee’s vice-chairmen.

Ahmed Ali Chaudhry, Chairman of the Safety Commission; Muhammad Ammar Alvi, Coordinator of the JAP Bahawalpur District Youth Chapter; and Shabbir Ahmed Qureshi also took oath.

Journalists and representatives of rural and town press clubs attend the oath-taking ceremony of the Journalists Alliance Pakistan (JAP) South Punjab Chapter at Uch Sharif on October 27, 2026. More than 200 journalists gathered for the event.

Senior journalists and community representatives attend

The gathering was attended by Rashid Aziz Hashmi, President of Tehsil Press Club Ahmedpur East; Khadim Hussain Somro, President of the registered Ahmedpur Media Club, Ahmedpur East; and office-bearers and members of the Ahmedpur Union of Journalists Workers.

Senior journalist Muhammad Nasar Khan Niazi was also among the participants.

Guests of honour included Makhdoomzada Syed Umar Raza Gillani, Waliahad of Darbar Qadiria Hazrat Mehboob Subhani (RA), Uch Sharif; Makhdoom Syed Nasir Hussain Bukhari, senior vice-president of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), Punjab; Professor Dr Muhammad Shehzad Rana, former head of the Department of Media Studies at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur; and Abdul Samad, senior non-linear editor at NLE Media and Communication Studies, Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

Other notable participants included Umar Sehmaan, president of Anjuman-e-Tajran Uch Sharif, and Ghulam Yaseen Somro, president of Jamaat Ahel-e-Sunnat.

The ceremony concluded with a luncheon hosted by the registered Uchsharif Press & Media Club, an RMNP affiliate for the past four years.

The gathering underscored the importance of cooperation among rural and town press clubs and renewed attention to press freedom, journalists’ safety, professional training and the working conditions of journalists across rural Pakistan.

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