ISLAMABAD: The Democratic Panel emerged victorious in the annual elections of the National Press Club (NPC) for the year 2026, securing the top slots in a closely contested race.
In the battle for the presidency, the Democratic Panel’s candidate, Abdur Razaq Sial, was elected as President after securing 1,067 votes. Sial defeated the Journalist Panel’s candidate, Nayyar Ali, who received 1,052 votes. The high-stakes contest for the presidential seat was decided by a narrow margin of just 15 votes.
The Democratic Panel further consolidated its win with successes in other key positions. Ehtesham led the polling for the governing body with a staggering 1,202 votes, while Bashir Chaudhry was elected as Vice President after securing 1,076 votes.
Other notable winners included former President of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA), Usman Khan, who secured 1,015 votes. Journalist Asad Toor followed with 974 votes, while Shah Muhammad and Khidr Malik rounded out the successful candidates with 865 and 807 votes, respectively.
The election, which saw significant participation from the journalist community of the twin cities, marks a shift in the club’s leadership as the Democratic Panel takes charge of the prestigious institution.
