LAHORE:Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has congratulated the newly elected office-bearers of the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (EMAND), urging them to play an active role in protecting press freedom and freedom of expression.

Rehman congratulated Azhar Abbas on his election as president, Tariq Mahmood as general secretary, Muhammad Usman and Mian Tahir Ameen as vice-presidents, Rehan Ahmed and Nadeem Jamal as joint secretaries, and Shahab Mahmood as finance secretary.

In his message, JI leader expressed hope that the association's new leadership would work to address the problems faced by the media industry and develop a strategy to counter the deteriorating state of press freedom in the country.

He stressed that the newly elected leadership must fulfil its responsibility to ensure freedom of expression and safeguard the right to independent journalism.

The JI chief reaffirmed his party's full support for press freedom and called on EMAND to play an effective role in resolving the problems faced by working journalists.