Aymen Zaheer
RIYADH — Members of the Pakistan Writers Club-Riyadh (PWC) and its Ladies Chapter (PWC-LC) — elected Abdul Rauf Mughal as its new president. He won 21 votes to 2 against by his rival H.M. Fayyaz
Before this election, Faiz Al-Najdi was president from Sept-2013 until 15 Feb-2016 when he stepped down from office and called for a new election. He then appointed former General Secretary Ashiq Hussain as election coordinator and noted personality of Riyadh Prof. Nadir Alam as the election commissioner. He also provided a road map leading to the election of a new president.
An election was held in the premise of Bright Future International School. It was attended by the members of both PWC and PWC-LC. Qasim Al-Qureshi, chairman Bright Future International School, and his wife Dr. Sayyara Al-Qureshi were the chief guests on the occasion.
Before the election commenced, the election commissioner explained to all voters, via demonstration, the procedures to vote. Both the contesting candidates were allowed 5 minutes each to address the voters and laid out before them their vision and mission.
First Rauf Mughal spoke and promised that as he was from the same school of thought as former president Al-Najdi and he would carry forward from where the former president had left off. Fayyaz then spoke and appealed to all the voters to vote for him as he was experienced and the right candidate.
Immediately after these two speeches, voting began. The first to vote, was the two contesting candidates — namely Fayyaz and Moghal. After this, the rest of the members followed. The event was moderated by Hussain.
After the voting was over, each member of PWC & PWC-LC was invited to speak about the club and the election. Those who addressed included Al-Najdi, Farah Ehsan, Madiha Malik, Ehsan Abbasi, Shumaila Zupash Malik, Zubair Bhatti, Reem Al-Qureshi, Madiha Noman, Almas Mumtaz, Ambreen Faiz Ahmad, and Prof. Gohar Rafiq. Prof. Javed Iqbal of Urdu News, Prof. Fayaz Haider Malik and Zaheer Qadri also spoke on the occasion.
Chief Guest Dr. Sayyara Al-Qureshi appreciated the work that the members of Pakistan Writers Club were doing. She especially appreciated the lady members for their active role in the activities of the club. She also stressed upon the point to do something about the proper upbringing of the younger generation and in shaping their minds in a right and positive directions.
“We have passed our time and now it is our duty to see to it that the young generation is put on the right track so that when they grow up they have all the right ingredients in them to take up their responsibilities and become useful citizens,” Dr. Sayyara remarked.
Qasim Al-Qureshi in a very brief speech thanked Pakistan Writers Club for completing their journey of 25 years and still going strong. “Our school and its facilities are always available for the constructive events that PWC and its Ladies Chapter would want to host,” Qasim said.
Election commissioner then took up the floor to begin vote counting. Election coordinator Ashiq Hussain was invited to assist him and both the contesting candidates were also invited to witness the counting. Moghal was declared the winner.
After the announcement of the election results, an undertaking paper was signed by both the contesting candidates agreeing to the fact that the entire process and procedure of the election was free and fair. This undertaking was then countersigned by election coordinator and election commissioner. After this signing ceremony the losing candidate made concession speech conceding defeat and congratulating the winner and assuring him with his fullest cooperation. The winner in his acceptance speech and thanked all the voters who voted for him. He also vowed to take the club to greater heights.
Election commissioner in his speech mentioned that he was proud to be associated with PWC since a very long time and Al-Najdi stated that he was very happy today for this smooth transfer of power.
