RMNP President Chairs Condolence Reference; Late Syed Sarfraz Zaidi to Receive Posthumous Sadiq Press Freedom Award 2026
Ahmedpur East : A condolence reference in memory of veteran journalist and former President of Ahmedpur Union of Journalists (Workers), Syed Sarfraz Hussain Zaidi, was held at the Ahmedpur Press Club. The event was jointly organized by Ahmedpur Union of Journalists (Workers) and Ahmedpur Press Club, and was chaired by President, Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP), Ehsan Ahmed Sehar.
In his presidential address, RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar paid rich tribute to the late Syed Sarfraz Zaidi, describing him as a fearless, principled and committed standard-bearer of press freedom. He announced that RMNP would confer the Sadiq Press Freedom Award 2026 (Category C) on Syed Sarfraz Hussain Zaidi posthumously, on the eve of World Press Freedom Day (3 May 2026).
RMNP President recalled that the late journalist and his family had made significant sacrifices for freedom of expression. He noted that Syed Owais Zaidi, son of the late Syed Sarfraz Zaidi and a young journalist who survived a gun attack after publishing a corruption story against a revenue official, had earlier received the RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Cash Award (Category C) during the World Press Freedom Day Roundtable on 3 May 2024.
The condolence reference featured speeches by senior representatives of journalists’ bodies and media organizations, including Rashid Aziz Hashmi, Muhammad Suleman Farooqi, Syed Nasir Mahmood Rizvi, Habibullah Rajput, Sheikh Aziz-ur-Rehman, Dr Khadim Hussain Somroo, Irshad Ahmed Shad, , Jan Muhammad Chauhan, Malik Muhammad Sajjad, Zahid Baloch, Khadim Hussain Shaheen Lashari, Shabbir Qureshi, Ahmed Ali Chaudhry, Syed Waheed Abbas Bukhari, and others. Speakers highlighted the late Syed Sarfraz Zaidi’s professional integrity, commitment to journalistic values, and his role in promoting unity, tolerance and respect within the media community.
Participants reaffirmed their collective resolve to uphold ethical journalism, mutual respect and democratic values. The condolence reference concluded with Fateha for the departed soul, followed by distribution of food among participants.
Ahmedpur East: A view of the stage during the condolence reference held at the Ahmedpur Press Club in memory of late senior journalist Syed Sarfraz Hussain Zaidi. President, Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP), Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, along with office-bearers of journalists’ organizations, is seen offering Fateha.
