In a decisive victory, the Ahmed Shah-Ejaz Faruqi panel dominated the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi elections for the year 2025-2026, securing a clean sweep over the Najam Ashraf Mubashir panel. The elections, which saw widespread participation, resulted in a crushing defeat for the opposition.
Muhammad Ahmed Shah, the presidential candidate from the winning panel, received an impressive 1,977 votes, leaving his opponent, Najamuddin Sheikh, far behind with only 185 votes. For the Vice President position, Munawar Saeed garnered 1,953 votes, while the Secretary position went to Professor Ejaz Farooqi, who secured 1,942 votes. Noor Ul Huda Shah, running for Joint Secretary, achieved 1,891 votes, and Qudsia Akbar triumphed for Treasurer with 1,939 votes.
The results for the opposing Najam Ashraf Mubashir panel were stark, with their candidates facing a tough battle. Ashraf Jabbar Qureshi, their presidential candidate, earned just 187 votes, while other candidates also trailed significantly. Mir Abbas Raza Mubashir received 155 votes, Mansoor Zuberi managed only 58 votes, and Treasurer candidate Taseem-ul-Haq Haqqi received 205 votes. In the race for the Governing Body, the winning candidates were equally dominant.
Dr. Huma Mir led the charge with 1,908 votes, followed closely by Dr. S.M. Qaiser Sajad (1,907 votes), Mohammad Iqbal Latif (1,886 votes), Dr. Ambareen Haseeb Amber (1,873 votes), and Ghazi Salahuddin (1,872 votes). Other successful candidates included Syed Sajid Hassan, Mohammad Ayoub Shaikh, Akhlaq Ahmad Khan, and Amjad Hussain Shah, among others.
The election saw a total of 2,215 votes cast out of 6,780 registered members, marking a highly active and engaged voting process. Voting began at 12 PM and continued without a break until 8 PM, with a large turnout from members representing various sectors, including social, political, cultural, and entertainment.
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi praised the election process for its transparency, congratulating the District Commissioner South, civil society, and the media for ensuring fair conduct. “The election process was highly transparent,” he remarked in his address to the media. In his victory speech, Muhammad Ahmed Shah expressed heartfelt thanks to the members who supported the panel, which secured over 90% of the votes.
He also acknowledged the role of Karachi’s Commissioner and DC South Altaf Sario in ensuring the elections were conducted fairly. The win was met with celebration at the Arts Council, where members gathered to congratulate Muhammad Ahmed Shah and the other victorious candidates, marking a significant moment in the council’s history.
