Pakistan’s premier body for electronic media editors completes elections across three cities, with new leadership pledging to defend press freedom against growing state restrictions.
By MediaBites.com.pk
Karachi, October 17, 2026: The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) has completed its elections, naming veteran journalist Azhar Abbas as President and Tariq Mahmood as General Secretary.
Tariq Mahmood, expressing gratitude for his election, said he was deeply honored by the trust his fellow Directors, News and Editors placed in him. “Your trust and confidence mean a great deal to me, and I look forward to serving with dedication and commitment,” he said.
The elections were held at meetings of the General Council in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Muhammad Usman and Mian Tahir were elected Vice Presidents, while Rehan Ahmed and Nadeem Jamal were elected Joint Secretaries, and Shahab Mahmood was elected Finance Secretary.
The General Council also elected the remaining members of the Executive Committee, including Zahid Mazhar, Masoom Rizvi, Mohsin Raza, Mubarak Ali, Kamran Lashari, Humayun Saleem, Muhammad Naushad, Kahwaja Hasnain and Razaq Sarohi.
Beyond elections, the General Council expressed grave concern over the deteriorating state of press freedom in Pakistan, citing the growing use of government powers and state institutions to restrict independent journalism. The Council specifically voiced concern over the alleged misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the actions of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
While acknowledging that the irresponsible conduct of certain YouTubers appeared to serve personal or political agendas under the guise of journalism, AEMEND firmly stated that the actions of a few individuals could not justify imposing blanket restrictions on the media as a whole.
The newly elected Executive Committee has resolved to hold detailed deliberations on the overall media situation in Pakistan and subsequently issue a comprehensive statement outlining the association’s position.
AEMEND is registered under SO(IS-II)/HD/NOC-262/2020 and is headquartered at the 1st Floor, New Block-1, Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium, Liaquat Barracks, Opposite Jinnah Hospital, Karachi.
Imran Malik, Editor-in-Chief of MediaBites.com.pk and SharjahNews.ae, congratulates Azhar Abbas on his election as President and Tariq Mahmood as General Secretary of AEMEND, along with all newly elected office bearers.
“Congratulations to Azhar Abbas, Tariq Mahmood and the entire new Executive Committee. We wish them all the very best in their new roles,” said Imran Malik.
“We hope this leadership will go beyond press freedom statements and take concrete steps for the protection, welfare and job security of media workers, who remain the most vulnerable segment of our industry. Pakistan’s electronic media journalists deserve a body that fights for them, not one that becomes another spineless association like PBA, which has historically failed to stand up when it mattered most.”
MediaBites.com.pk
