The federal government is likely to appoint senior journalist and anchorperson-cum-rights campaigner Absar Alam as chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a bid widely seen as an attempt of the ruling party to effectively gag criticism unleashed against it by a number of anchorpersons and analysts, Pakistan Today has learnt.
An immediate appointment of chairman PEMRA would be in violation of the directives of the Senate Standing Committee on Ministry of Information & Broadcasting which in its recently held meeting had cast serious doubts over the process adopted for short-listing of the new chief of the electronic media monitor.
Under the PEMRA ordinance, the prime minister is authorised to appoint an ’eminent person’ who has skills in media, management, financial affairs, administration, economic and law for appointment as the Authority’s chief.
A bench of the Supreme Court in its direction on January 15, 2013, directed the government to appoint a person having elaborate skills in management and fulfils all the requirements of PEMRA rules.
Absar Alam is said to be a close aide to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He has served as resident editor of a national daily while he has also worked on an administrative post in a TV channel. Being a moderate and a human rights activist, Absar Alam has also worked as country head of the Open Society Foundation – which seeks to combat discrimination by empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities to promote and defend their human rights.
Sources in the federal government said that a summary has already been moved to the Prime Minister’s House with Absar Alam’s name at top of the list despite the fact that Azam Khan, the incumbent secretary information, and acting PEMRA Chairman Kamaluddin Tippu had also filed applications for the position.
A source in the Ministry of Information told Pakistan Today that around 39 candidates were interviewed by a four-member board under the Chairmanship of Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid. Secretary Establishment Division, Secretary Information and Director General EP Wing were members of the board which conducted interviews of the shortlisted candidates for the post of Chairman PEMRA.
“Information Secretary Azam Khan, who is soon to retire, also applied for this job but he was informed by the government not to pursue for the slot and rather forward a summary to the prime minister with Absar Alam’s name on top of the list. Azam Khan has been promised a good placement in return for the favour,” the source added.
WHO’S IN THE RUN:
The interviews were conducted on September 29 and 30, 2015 and the candidates who appeared before the Selection Board included Acting PEMRA Chairman Kamaluddin Tippu, Inspector General Islamabad Police Tahir Alam Khan, senior journalist Absar Alam, Dr M. Ali Sheikh, Iftikhar Ahmad Mir, Mustafan Kazmi, Zulifqar Ahmad, Zafar Hussain, Muhammad Fayyaz, Dr Asif Qureshi, Muhammad Asif, Faheem-ul-Islam, Ghazala Mujahid, Naseer Jamali, Habibur Rehman, Raja Muhammad Afsheen Afzal, Muhammad Arif, Dr Asif Qayyum and Basharat Mirza. The seven shortlisted candidates who did not appear before the committee included Nawab Khan, Abdul Waheed Rana, Hussain Ahmad Madni, Qazi Ishaq Ali, Brig (r) Muhammad Naeem and Syed Zafar Abbas Zaidi.
“TAILOR-MADE” ADVERTISEMENT:
A source in the Ministry of Information told Pakistan Today that the government had published its first advertisement on July 23, 2014 which warranted a Master’s degree for eligible candidates for the slot of Chairman PEMRA.
However, the source added that a new advertisement appeared on August 24, 2015, stating that the candidate should be a Graduate (BA/BSc.). The age limit in first advertisement was from 50-65 years while the age limit in the following advertisement was reduced to 50 years to 61 years.
“In first advertisement, it was mentioned that the selection of the candidate would be made under the direction of the Supreme Court. But the new advertisement said that the appointment would be made under the Civil Establishment Code Year 2007. Moreover, in the new advertisement, a new condition was added that the selected candidate would have to tender resignation from his/her incumbent office – a clause not mentioned in previous advertisement,” the source added.
The Senate Standing Committee on Ministry of Information took up the matter in its recently held meeting and directed the government to stop the ongoing process of appointing a permanent PEMRA chief and advertise the post again under the committee’s recommendations.
The committee had directed the ministry to re-advertise the advertisement for headhunt of the new PEMRA chief as the previous process looked “flawed”. The committee had also added that it looked as if the government wanted to appoint some “blue eyed” as the first advertisement had sought a Masters degree holding candidate for the prized slot while the second advertisement was “tailor-made” to accommodate a graduate against the post.
When contacted, Chairman of Senate Standing Committee Senator Kamil Ali Agha said the matter was grave and needed immediate attention.
“We have asked the government to stop the hiring process which looks biased. It seems as if the government wants some blue eyed as new PEMRA chief,” he added.
Asked whether Absar’s appointment was a case of favouritism, Senator Agha said there was nothing new as appointing aides against top government slots for lucrative packages has been hallmark of the PML-N government.
also added that it looked as if the government wanted to appoint some “blue eyed” as the first advertisement had sought a Masters degree holding candidate for the prized slot while the second advertisement was “tailor-made” to accommodate a graduate against the post.
When contacted, Chairman of Senate Standing Committee Senator Kamil Ali Agha said the matter was grave and needed immediate attention.
“We have asked the government to stop the hiring process which looks biased. It seems as if the government wants some blue eyed as new PEMRA chief,” he added.
Asked whether Absar’s appointment was a case of favouritism, Senator Agha said there was nothing new as appointing aides against top government slots for lucrative packages has been hallmark of the PML-N government.