Under the chairmanship of President Tariq Ali Work, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists held a general body meeting in Islamabad that received unanimous endorsement for its annual performance and finance reports. The gathering highlighted the union’s sustained efforts to protect journalists’ rights, address economic grievances, and defend press freedom across the capital region.
Members were informed that through persistent advocacy, legal action and effective representation the union secured payments exceeding Rs 7.7 billion for journalists and media workers via ITNE, a milestone hailed as historic for local media employees. Speakers emphasized that this recovery resulted from coordinated struggle and focused legal strategy, and reflected the union’s commitment to journalists’ economic rights.
Delegates were briefed on ongoing actions to challenge the PECA Act and other measures seen as threats to independent reporting, along with interventions to resolve incidents affecting reporters, including cases reported at New Town Police Station. The RIUJ meeting reaffirmed its pledges to continue judicial and parliamentary advocacy alongside on-ground protest movements to defend media freedoms.
Acting General Secretary Gulzar Khan delivered the annual performance report detailing protests, welfare initiatives, resistance to forced layoffs and sustained representation of journalists in dispute resolution forums. Finance Secretary Bashir Usmani presented a transparent account of the union’s financial affairs and administrative measures, both reports receiving unanimous approval from the house.
Prominent voices at the meeting included PFUJ President Afzal Butt, former PFUJ Secretary General Nasir Zaidi, Fauzia Shahid and Islamabad Press Club President Azhar Jatoi. Additional contributors included Secretary Nayar Ali and former RIUJ presidents Anwar Raza, Mubarak Zaib, Ali Raza Alvi, Abid Abbasi, Aamir Sajjad Syed, Shehryar Khan, former Secretary General Bilal Dar and Finance Secretary Asghar Chaudhry, who all reflected on the challenges facing journalism and endorsed the union’s course.
The event drew a large turnout of senior journalists from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, among them Press Club Finance Secretary Waqar Abbasi, former Finance Secretary Kashan Akmal and noted reporters such as Zaman Mughal, Javed Bhagat, Qurban Satti, Kashif Rafiq, Sardar Shahid, Asif Hamdani, Malik Khizar and Rashid Malik, alongside many others who voiced support for continued collective action.
President Tariq Ali Work expressed gratitude to RIUJ office-bearers including Secretary Asif Bashir Chaudhry, Acting Secretary Gulzar Hussain Khan, Finance Secretary Nadeem Chaudhry, Joint Secretary Mujahid Naqvi, Senior Vice President Bashir Usmani, Vice President Ammar Barlas and executive members Ali Akhtar, Tauseef Abbasi, Rana Farhan, Ghufran Ahmed Chishti, Nawabzada Shah Ali Asad Shir, Afshan Qureshi, Asma Nawaz, Sobia Musharraf and Aftab Jahan for their support during a demanding year.
Members of the general body expressed full confidence in the union’s leadership, praised its performance and pledged to intensify efforts for journalists’ dignity and rights. The successful RIUJ meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen collective struggle and protect the independence of the media in Islamabad and neighbouring districts.
