Advisor to Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education, Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani has denied claims by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government and reports appearing in national media regarding the award of a multi-billion ad-contract of print and electronic media campaign to a company in which certain PTI members supposedly hold interests.
While addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, the minister termed the news as a malicious propaganda attempt intended to defame the PTI provincial government by PML-N, who wants to divert people’s attention from Panama Papers.
While clarifying the matter, the minister stated that under the publicity plan, an advertisement was issued inviting advertising agencies to register themselves with the provincial government. 18 advertising companies appeared in the steering committee meeting and gave their presentations in which 13 companies were shortlisted. The meeting was chaired by Advisor to CM on Information, Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani.
The minister refuted allegations levelled earlier by PML-N leaders Musadiq Malik and Danial Aziz that advertisement contract is being awarded to a company in which Senior PTI members Faisal Javed and Iftikhar Durrani hold interests.
The minister termed PML-N leaders’ statements baseless and stated that the provincial government will file a law suit against PML-N for defamation and misleading the public through false information.
The minister added that the provincial government and the Directorate of Information and Public Relations has a policy in place according to which advertisements are distributed in the regional, provincial and national media.
The minister further clarified that advertisement contracts will be provided on merit basis and that no company has been provided with any ad-contract.
The decision will be made after consultations with the chief minister and concerned authorities.
Faisal Javed no longer works in any ad-company and has devoted himself to party affairs. Therefore the question of awarding an ad contract to the company in which Faisal Javed used to work is immature,” the minister added.
