Anjuman-e-Urdu Sahafat sets course for elections, trainings

Srinagar, Apr 12: In a significant and outcome-oriented meeting held in Srinagar, the Executive Council of the Jammu and Kashmir Anjuman-e-Urdu Sahafat reached a broad consensus on organisational unity, transparent elections, and the need for practical steps toward strengthening Urdu journalism and professional training.

The meeting, chaired by the Patron-in-Chief Hamid Hameed, marked a critical step forward for the Anjuman after a considerable period of organisational dormancy.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the unanimous decision to conduct elections for a new organisational setup after the current term concludes.

To facilitate this, another executive meeting has been scheduled for April 30, during which the final election date will be confirmed.

In an important move to ensure electoral transparency, senior member Manohar Lalgami was unanimously appointed as the chief election commissioner.

He has been given the authority to appoint two Additional Commissioners under him, forming an independent and empowered election commission.

The current leadership has been directed to finalise the voter list and hand it over to the commission by April 30.

The meeting saw active participation from key office bearers including President Riyaz Malik, General Secretary Bilal Furqani, chief organiser and spokesman Showkat Sahil, Provincial President Kashmir Raja Irshad and senior members Imtiyaz Khan, Zahid Mushtaq, Manohar Lalgami, and Nazim Nazir.

Vice President Ishrat Bhat, Provincial President Jammu Jahangir, and senior member Shabir Malik joined the session virtually, reaffirming their commitment to the Anjuman-e-Urdu Sahafat.

Patron-in-Chief Hamid Hameed individually consulted each member, leading to open and transparent discussions.

The members collectively emphasised the need to move forward with unity to accomplish the pending mission.

The spirit of democratic engagement and mutual respect added weight to the deliberations.

The performance of the current leadership was broadly appreciated by the executive members, who acknowledged that it had steered the Anjuman-e-Urdu Sahafat through turbulent times in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the leadership of Ryiaz Malik, the Anjuman not only remained active but also regularly organised workshops, seminars, and literary-journalistic events, especially across both the Kashmir and Jammu regions, promoting Urdu journalism in challenging circumstances.

Immediately following the main session, a special meeting was convened under the leadership of President Riyaz Malik, where the decision to hold a digital media workshop in Srinagar within the next 10 days was finalised.

General Secretary Bilal Furqani and Provincial President Kashmir Raja Irshad were assigned to begin preparations to ensure its success.

The Anjuman called upon all members to come together with renewed energy and shared purpose to advance its mission and strengthen Urdu journalism in the region.