ISLAMABAD: Journalist Panel secured all seats of the National Press Club (NPC) in the elections 2015 with almost no contest after three opposition groups boycotted the polls.

The elections, held on Saturday, were marred by allegations of fake voters’ lists, leading three groups led by Matiullah Jan, Nawaz Raza and Pervaiz Shaukat to announce a boycott of the polls.

According to the results, Shahryar Khan of Express News was elected president securing 1,329 votes against independent candidate Farrukh Nawaz who bagged just 49 votes.

Tariq Chaudhry of Aaj TV was elected secretary with 1,249 votes, defeating another independent candidate, Khizar Klasra, who got 133 votes.

Abdul Razzaq Sial from Jang Group polled 1,201 votes, Baqir Sajjad Syed from Dawn got 1,149 votes and Shakir Solangi of Dunya TV secured 1,022 votes to win the seats of vice presidents.

The losing candidate, Babar Mughal, polled 308 votes.

The remaining seats of finance and joint secretaries as well as that of members of the governing body had already been won by the Journalist Panel unopposed.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2014