The media’s voice: Tribal Union of Journalists in SWA elects office-bearers

Officials also elected in Wana and Ladha press clubs

DI KHAN: Elections of the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) South Waziristan unit were held at a political administration compound in Tank district on Saturday. Shakir Mehsud was elected as president for TUJ South Waziristan, and Shahzadin Wazir was voted in as general secretary. Elections were also held for Wana and Ladha press clubs.

Zafar Wazir was elected as president for Wana Press Club and Noor Ali Wazir was the general secretary. For Ladha Press Club, Hamza Mehsud was elected as president and Khan Zeb Mehsud was made the general secretary.

The elected members gathered in Tank and vowed to raise their voice against issues faced by journalists. They decided to convey their grievances to the senior officials in the government.

Newly elected SWA TUJ President Shakir Mehsud was delighted to take charge. “I promise to work and resolve issued faced by the community,” he said in his address.

“We are pushing the high-ups in the government to resolve our issues such as providing a building for press clubs in Wana and Ladha.  We also need funding to keep our jobs and make ends meet,” he added. On this occasion, tributes were paid to the slain journalist Zaman Mehsud who was killed by unidentified assailants in Tank in 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2016.