The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage (IB&NH) was informed on Tuesday that 15 employees of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) appointed during past two years have been sacked.
The IB&NH secretary and PTV Managing Director Syed Imran Gardezi informed the committee meeting, chaired by Pir Aslam Bodla, that the sacked employees are getting hefty salaries ranging from Rs 600,000 to Rs 700,000 per month. He said investigations are being held into illegal appointments and illegal purchase of television plays from the market.
He said that a three-member committee has been constituted to probe various allegations against the former PTV MD Abdul Malick. The committee was informed that PTV has restarted the process of its own drama production.
Some of the committee members said that video of Dr Asim Hussain shown by various private channels was a media trial.
Member National Assembly Imran Zafar Leghari asked if it was a violation of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) rules and regulations. PMLN spokesperson Talal Chaudhry said that it was media trial which should be avoided and PEMRA should examine how this video was leaked.
He said the National Assembly speaker has written a letter to PEMRA for a separate channel for parliament’s coverage. He said that consultations with the speaker for a separate channel should be held.
The IB&NH secretary said that the PTV would launch a new channel for parliamentary coverage if required funds are provided and being a state channel, it does not need any new license.
The committee expressed displeasure over the telecast of a mobile phone advertisement in which a girl goes to cricket team camp without permission of the parents. Parveen Masood Bhatti and Naeema Kishwar remarked, “What moral values are being taught to the new generation through such advertisements?”
