By: Syed Aabid
Kupwara: Elections for the office bearers of Journalists’ & Writers’ Association Kupwara, also known as (JWAK) were held on Tuesday at town hall Kupwara.
The hours long electoral exercise was supervised by a team of independent Observors including Bar district president Kupwara, Shafeeq Ahmad, Naib Tehsildar, Zahoor Ahmad Pir,
Showkat Masoodi, Civil Society Convenor, eminent author and poet,
Athar Gani Beig and Advocate high court, Mir Umar.
Rasikh Rasool, senior journalist and editor Royal Kashmir, was unanimously elected as the Patron of JWAK.
Mr. Fayaz Hamid, was elected president, Amin Masoodi, Vice-president, Abrar Bhat, General Secretary (Unopposed) and Ashiq Hussain secretary.
In border town Karnah, elections for the office bearers were held simultaneously under the supervision of Naib-Tehsildar Karnah, Khoja Ab. Qayoom, as an independent Observor.
Rasikh Rasool, administered oath of office to the elected members during the proceedings.
Fayaz Hamid assured full support to young and budding reporters and advised them to work truthfully and honesty in the larger interest of society.
Amin Masoodi, expressed satisfaction over the inclusion of prolific writers in the association and hoped that they will contribute immensely to the society by writing on public issues and issues of importance in contemporary times.
Abrar Bhat thanked the Observors for their time and advised young reporters to work with honesty to report larger public issues.
Rashik Rasool hoped that the association members will work earnestly to come to the expectations of the people in border district and writers too will contribute their bit by throwing light on important public issues.
The independent Observors during their brief speeches called for overall improvement in reportage and hoped that the association members will spare no efforts to highlight public issues and grievences in the backward district.
Athar Beigh expressed pleasure over inclusion of writers in the association and hoped more writers will join the body in future.
Showkat Masoodi called for cooperation among the members and urged journalists to reach out to the weaker sections of society.
Kamran Ashraf hosted the proceedings and thanked Observors for their time. Kamran advised the young reporters to focus on public issues in remote areas of the district in an attempt to get them resolved.
Kamran greeted the elected members and hoped they will work together to strenghthen the association and widen its base in coming months.
Faizan Qureshi assisted in hosting hours long proceedings and thanked the Observors for supervising the event.
Tasaduq Hussain gave vote of thanks to the Observors in the end and appreciated the members for their presence and vote. Tasaduq congratulated the elected members and hoped that they will work earnestly to strengthen the association and encourage the youngsters in the field.
Meanwhile former minister and Peoples Conference chairman, Sajad Lone, greeted the elected members and hoped that they will work earnestly to showcase the larger public issues in frontier district.
