–PML-N’s Marriyum calls on info minister to discuss issues pertaining to PTV crisis
ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said that if the affairs of Pakistan Television (PTV) are not handled properly, it will come to a close.
The information minister was talking to the media on Monday after attending a session of the Senate’s Standing Committee for Information and Broadcasting.
The Senate body has given its recommendations on the affairs of PTV, the minister said, adding that it will send its recommendations to the office of the prime minister.
The minister said that all members of the committee have recommended the removal of PTV Managing Director Arshad Khan.
The minister alleged that the state television’s MD has hijacked its affairs. He said that for past 23 days, the MD PTV has failed to attend his office at PTV headquarters and even on Monday, he could not attend the committee meeting.
“No institution could be run in this manner. The entire management of PTV is on one side and the MD is on another,” he added.
He said that the tenure of the managing director of PTV has lapsed and an advertisement for a new MD has been published.
Fawad Chaudhry advised the incumbent MD of the state television to resign from his office voluntarily.
Fawad Chaudhry and Special Assistant to Prime Minster on Political Affairs Naeemul Haque have been engaged in a spat over the managing director of the PTV.
The minister on Sunday denied reports about sending his resignation to the Prime Minister’s Office. Talking to the media, the minister said that the matter will become clear in his meeting with the prime minister.
Earlier, Standing Committee Chairman Faisal Javed, along with the committee members and the minister, met the protesting PTV employees and said that the committee has taken notice of the situation and discussed the issue in the meeting.
He assured them about the resolution of their problems and said that the information minister has also written a letter to the prime minister on the reservations of PTV employees.
Pir Sabir Shah said that the opposition also supported the demands of the PTV employees. Rubina Khalid said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would join the workers’ protest if the matter was not resolved on priority.
MARRIYUM AURANGZEB CALLS ON FAWAD:
Meanwhile, PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb called on Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday to discuss the issues currently faced by PTV in his chamber inside Parliament House.
According to reports, Fawad and Aurangzeb discussed issues relating to the appointment of PTV Managing Director Arshad Khan, whose appointment the incumbent information minister has opposed.
Aurangzeb too was of the opinion that Khan was appointed in an illegal manner, and Fawad supported her stance.
Fawad also asked Aurangzeb how she had tackled matters concerning Ataul Haq Qasmi, a former PTV MD whose appointment was declared illegal by the Supreme Court in 2018, reports claimed.
The PML-N spokesperson asked the information minister to take steps to immediately resolve the problems being faced by PTV employees and pensioners. Fawad assured her that the employees’ issues would be taken care of soon.
In a statement, Aurangzeb said she drew Fawad’s attention towards a delay in the implementation of the film and cultural policy.
She said she also discussed the progress regarding the formation of a commission about the right to information, adding that she had reassured the info minister regarding the cooperation of opposition to resolve all issues.
She emphasised that the info ministry should bring the matter regarding the formation of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) to the NA Standing Committee on Information.
