AMEND elects new leadership and raises press freedom concerns

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AMEND) has announced its new leadership following meetings in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Azhar Abbas has been elected President, and Tariq Mehmood has been appointed General Secretary. Mubarak Ali, chief editor of Khyber News, was elected to the executive committee for a third consecutive term.

Other elected officials include Vice Presidents Muhammad Usman and Mian Tahir, Joint Secretaries Rehan Ahmed and Nadeem Jamal, and Finance Secretary Shahab Mehmood. The General Council also elected several other members to the executive committee to oversee the association’s operations.

During the elections, the General Council expressed grave concern regarding the deteriorating state of press freedom in Pakistan. The council highlighted the increasing use of state institutions and government powers to restrict independent journalism, specifically citing the alleged misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the activities of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

While the council criticized certain YouTubers for using journalism to push personal or political agendas, it maintained that the conduct of individuals should not justify broad restrictions on the media. The new executive committee is scheduled to deliberate on the national media situation and issue an official position statement.