Victory in KPC polls: business community greets ‘The Democrats’ panel

KARACHI: Convener of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice and former chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Rafiq Suleman, has congratulated the The Democrats panel on its resounding success in the Karachi Press Club annual elections for the year 2026.

Rafiq Suleman congratulated all the elected office-bearers and members of the Governing Body of the Karachi Press Club, stating that the continued success of the Democrats Panel is a reflection of its exemplary performance and the strong confidence of the members.

He said that the manner in which positive democratic traditions were upheld among all groups during the elections is commendable and sets a fine example.

Rafiq Suleman congratulated the newly elected President Fazil Jamili, Secretary Aslam Khan, and the members elected to seven Governing Body seats—Abdul Jabbar Nasir, Akhtar Hussain Soomro, Shaima Siddiqui, Faryal Arif, Javed Saba, Fareed Alam, and Javed Mehr—and expressed the hope that the new leadership of the Karachi Press Club will continue, as in the past, to play its role in conveying the issues faced by rice exporters to government circles.

He said that the Karachi Press Club holds historic significance, as it is from here that journalists have waged historic struggles for the attainment of their rights.

He expressed hope that, as always, the new leadership will continue to play its role in promoting journalism and democracy.

Meanwhile Patron-in-Chief of United Business Group (UBG) S M Tanveer, President Zubair Tufail, Chairman (Sindh Region) Khalid Tawab, Secretary General (Sindh) Hanif Gohar, Central Spokesperson Gulzar Feroz, and Core Committee members Malik Khuda Bakhsh and Tariq Haleem have termed the resounding victory of the Democratic Panel in the annual elections of the Karachi Press Club as a triumph of democracy.

The UBG leaders congratulated the new office-bearers — President Fazil Jamili, Vice President Irshad Khokhar, Secretary Muhammad Aslam Khan, Joint Secretary Muhammad Farooq Sami, Treasurer Imran Ayub—and the Governing Body members Abdul Jabbar Nasir, Akhtar Soomro, Sheema Siddiqui, Faryal Arif, Javed Saba, Fareed Alam, and Javed Mehr.

They stated that the Karachi Press Club is a reflection of democratic traditions where elections are held through democratic means. They expressed hope that the newly elected office-bearers, as in the past, will remain at the forefront in effectively highlighting journalists’ rights as well as the issues faced by the business community.

They further said that the Karachi Press Club is a strong fortress of responsible journalism and that it and its members have consistently played an exemplary role in the restoration of democracy in Pakistan and in conveying facts to the public.

They expressed confidence that the newly elected office-bearers and members of the Governing Body will play a full and effective role in safeguarding the rights of the journalistic community.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025