Kathmandu, May 6 : Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Tuesday said journalists have to play an important role in drafting a new democratic constitution.

Stating that more challenges lay ahead in the coming days, the Prime Minister lauded the role played by the journalists during his meeting with the newly elected office-bearers of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) working committee who reached the PM’s official residence at Baluwatar this morning.

PM Koirala felicitated the elected journalists and urged them to work in a more serious manner as more challenges lay up ahead while formulating a new constitution, newly elected FNJ Secretary Ramjee Dahal informed.

Newly elected FNJ President Dharmendra Jha, General Secretary Poshan KC and Treasurer Ramesh Bista among others were present at the meeting.

”Journalists have played a positive role in human rights protection,” Kantipur quoted Koirala, as saying.

He also committed to extend all kinds of assistance to FNJ in the future.

Meanwhile, the newly elected team of FNJ, an umbrella organisation of Nepali journalists, is due to undertake its responsibility this afternoon at its office in the capital.

The 22nd convention of FNJ had elected a 14-member working committee under the presidency of Dharmendra Jha. (ANI)