ISLAMABAD, November 14, 2024: Mukhtar Javed, a renowned and seasoned social activist has been elected as the new chairperson of Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) here on Wednesday for a three-year term.

FAFEN’s 20-member National Council elected the new chairperson through vote. Soon after his election, Mr. Javed took the oath of his office. The outgoing Chairperson, Ms. Mossarat Qadeem, and all other 18 members of the National Council (NC) congratulated Mr. Javed on assuming the office of chairperson of FAFEN.

Mr. Mukhtar Javed is a well-known and seasoned civil society activist, writer and a poet. He is among the founding members of FAFEN. During his development career that spanned over 30 years, Mr. Javed has championed the causes of democracy, inclusive governance and sustainable development. Mr. Javed heads Welfare Association Jared (WAJ), a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based not-for-profit organization, which also manages the Hazara Abaseen Network (HAN). HAN is one of the 20 regional networks that form FAFEN.

Speaking after his election, Mr. Mukhtar Javed said he would invest his energies in advancing electoral, legislative and local governance reforms, which are essential for democratic consolidation in Pakistan. He emphasized on maintaining nonpartisanship as a core value the network cherishes and builds upon in its quest for improving country’s electoral framework through observation, research and advocacy. He congratulated the outgoing chairperson Ms. Mossarat Qadeem for steering the network through the challenging years of political polarization and maintaining its credibility as a nonpartisan civil society network. The Council also joined newly-elected chairperson in thanking the outgoing chairperson for her utmost dedication and services to the network.

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