Ganderbal: The Ganderbal Press Association (GPA) on Tuesday elected its new team of office-bearers at Islamic Revival International School (IRIS), Kijpara, Kangan, with Ayaz Mahmood Sofi re-elected as President for a second consecutive term.
The election process was conducted in a cordial atmosphere, with all candidates elected unopposed as no contesting nominations were received for the respective posts.
The newly elected office-bearers include Ayaz Mahmood Sofi, associated with PTI and Times Now, as President, Basit Ah Shah of NDTV as Vice President; Hadi Hidayat of The NewsCast as General Secretary, and Arif Kassana of Growing Kashmir as Treasurer. Aqib Rasool was also named the association’s spokesperson.
The programme was attended by SHO Kangan Sajad Asad as the Chief Guest, while Chairman of Islamic Revival International School, Kijpara, Ajaz Ahmad, was also present along with other guests and members of the journalistic fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, re-elected President Ayaz Mahmood Sofi said the association would work collectively to safeguard the rights and dignity of journalists and strengthen journalism in the district. He emphasised the importance of unity and cooperation among media professionals and assured members that the association would remain committed to their welfare and professional interests.
Chairman IRIS Kangan, Ajaz Ahmad, highlighted the important role of journalists in society and stressed the need to uphold ethical standards in journalism. He underlined the significance of factual reporting, professional responsibility and the media’s role in informing the public and raising issues of public interest.
The guests congratulated the newly elected office-bearers and extended their wishes for the successful functioning of the association. They also emphasised the importance of responsible journalism and constructive engagement between the media and society.
Students of Islamic Revival International School were also invited to attend the programme as part of an interaction aimed at familiarising them with journalism and helping them understand the role of the media in society.
During the interaction, association members spoke about the importance of factual reporting, responsible journalism, ethical practices and the media’s responsibility to highlight issues concerning the public.
The newly elected body said it would function within the constitutional framework of the association and work collectively to strengthen the institutional role of the Ganderbal Press Association, promote unity among journalists and address issues affecting the media fraternity in the district.
