ISLAMABAD (Special Report: Czechangez Khan Jadoon) – When the police stormed the National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad on October 2, 2025, they did not just attack a building — they violated the most sacred space in Pakistan’s journalistic community. But what followed was even more painful: the deafening silence and indecision of the very people entrusted to defend that space — our elected office-bearers.
As a member of this institution, I say this with conviction: the current NPC leadership has failed in its fundamental duty, and the only honorable course left for them now is to resign collectively.
Anything less would be an insult to the legacy of those who built this club as a fortress of truth and freedom.
The Day Our Fortress Fell
For decades, journalists across Pakistan have found safety, solidarity, and voice within these walls. The National Press Club was never just a meeting place — it was our sanctuary. A space where the state’s pressure, censorship, and intimidation could not reach us.
On October 2, that illusion was shattered. Uniformed officers stormed through our gates, baton-charged reporters, broke cameras, and humiliated our colleagues.
Videos showed chaos, fear, and disbelief. And amid that confusion, one thing stood out most clearly — our leadership was missing.
Not one senior office-bearer was visibly leading, mediating, or resisting. No authoritative statement came in real time. No emergency coordination, no defense of the club’s boundaries, no physical presence at the front lines.
The very institution meant to defend journalists stood leaderless while its sanctity was violated.
Leadership Failure Is Not Just a Mistake — It’s a Betrayal
Every office-bearer of the National Press Club — president, secretary, vice president, and governing council — took an oath to protect the independence and dignity of this institution.
That oath was broken.
It was broken when police entered our premises unchallenged.
It was broken when journalists were beaten without intervention.
It was broken again when the management issued timid, cautious statements instead of decisive action.
This was not a case of poor communication or bureaucratic delay. This was a moral failure — a failure of courage, conviction, and leadership.
We journalists hold others accountable every day — ministers, police, politicians, judges. Now the time has come to hold our own leaders accountable too.
Why Collective Resignation Is the Only Honourable Option
Some may argue that inquiries are under way or that apologies have been issued. But those gestures are not enough. The NPC has lost face before its members and the public. Only a collective resignation can restore moral credibility.
Here’s why:
1. Accountability Begins at Home
Journalists cannot demand accountability from others while ignoring failures within their own institutions. Resignation is not defeat — it is the first step toward restoring integrity.
2. Leadership Is a Moral Responsibility, Not a Title
True leadership is tested in crisis, not in elections. When the club needed defenders, our office-bearers were absent. Their continued presence in office now insults the profession they represent.
3. The Sanctity of the NPC Has Been Compromised
Once the gates of the press club are breached, the trust of journalists nationwide is shaken. Only a complete reset — through fresh elections and new leadership — can rebuild that trust.
4. Symbolism Matters in Democracy
A collective resignation would send a powerful message to the state and the public: that journalists do not tolerate failure, even among their own. It would prove that we hold ourselves to the same standard we demand of others.
The NPC Is Bigger Than Its Office-Holders
The National Press Club belongs to its members — not to the handful of people occupying offices. This institution has a proud, decades-long history of resistance and dignity. It has faced martial laws, censorship drives, and political intimidation.
From the Karachi Press Club’s defiance in the 1980s to the NPC’s solidarity with persecuted journalists in Balochistan and Kashmir, our press clubs have always stood tall against power.
That moral authority is now at risk because our leadership chose silence instead of resistance.
By resigning collectively, the current office-bearers would not be surrendering — they would be redeeming themselves in the eyes of their colleagues and history.
The Road to Redemption: What Must Happen Next
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Collective Resignation Announcement
All office-bearers of National Press Club should immediately step down, taking moral responsibility for their failure to protect the club’s sanctity. -
Formation of an Interim Members’ Council
Senior journalists and respected past presidents should temporarily oversee the club’s operations and call for fresh elections within 60 days. -
Creation of a Members’ Protection Protocol
The club must establish a permanent emergency response mechanism to prevent any future violation. No law enforcement agency should be allowed entry without prior authorization and witness oversight. -
Legal and Institutional Action
The NPC should file a strong legal case against the unlawful raid and seek accountability from all responsible officers. Silence is no longer an option. -
Reaffirmation of the Club’s Mission
Through a general members’ meeting, we must reaffirm that the NPC exists not as a social club, but as a guardian of press freedom and voice of the journalist community.
Journalism Without Integrity Is Power Without Purpose
We often say that journalism is the last line of defense between truth and tyranny. But if the defenders themselves refuse accountability, then what remains of that defense?
The office-bearers of the NPC were elected not for privileges or publicity, but to stand guard when danger came to the door. On October 2, danger entered — and the guards disappeared.
By resigning collectively, they can still prove they are journalists first, politicians later. They can still show the world that the moral compass of Pakistani journalism has not been lost.
This Is Not Revenge — It Is Renewal
Demanding resignation is not about punishment. It is about cleansing the institution of complacency and restoring the trust that binds us.
This is a moment of renewal — an opportunity to remind ourselves that our loyalty lies not with individuals but with principles.
The National Press Club must be rebuilt not just in structure, but in spirit. A leadership that cannot defend its sanctity does not deserve to lead it.
Final Word: Leadership Demands Sacrifice, Not Silence
Our press clubs were built on sacrifice — not convenience. They were built by men and women who faced arrests, bans, and threats for speaking truth to power.
If our current leadership truly believes in that tradition, then the honorable path is clear:
Step down. Take responsibility. Let new voices lead.
That single act would do more to restore the sanctity of the National Press Club than any press conference or committee ever could.
The world is watching. The members are waiting. History is recording. It’s time to choose courage over comfort — and truth over title.
Czechangez Khan Jadoon is a senior member of National Press Club Islamabad. He also heads Patriotic Journalists of Pakistan, a media forum to unite Pakistani journalists belonging to different parts of the country and abroad.
