PESHAWAR: The representative bodies of journalists — the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) and Peshawar Press Club — have denounced awarding of a top civil award in the field of journalism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to a customs clearing agent, calling it a mockery of the sacrifices made by the journalist community of the province.

They announced strong protest and firm resistance against the nomination, and demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take up the matter with the relevant quarters.

In a joint statement issued on Friday said that on the occasion of Independence Day, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi — a leader of the Customs Clearing Agents Association, Coordinator of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Dry Port Committee of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry — was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the category of journalism.

The journalist community of Peshawar strongly protested this nomination and condemned all institutions and authorities involved at every stage of this decision.

The statement added that journalists had no objection to Mr Sarhadi receiving a civil award, provided it was in recognition of his services in his own field.

“However, nominating a person having no connection to the profession of journalism for a top national award in journalism is a violation of merit, a blatant example of nepotism, and a grave injustice to journalists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a sensitive region where they have rendered invaluable sacrifices for the country and the nation,” the statement said.

It was further stated that the crude manner in which Mr. Sarhadi had been awarded the top civil honour in journalism also had cast doubts over the awards presented to other leaders and personalities on Independence Day.

These representative journalist bodies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned that if this decision was not reviewed, they would resort to all options of resistance, including the boycott of the federal government and its institutions.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2025