- Bitter public rift among ruling party high-ups
The ideological divide within PTI, between the old guard who struggled for two decades before attaining power, and ‘electables’ who jumped on the PTI bandwagon sensing its imminent electoral triumph, has resurfaced in the sensitive media-management realm. No forceful coalition partner threatens the razor-thin government majority, instead it is loud public bickering within PTI leadership, between Fawad Chaudhry, the blunt federal minister for information and Naeemul Haq, the PM’s special assistant on political affairs (considered the PM’s oldest, closest confidant), over recent appointment of MD, PTV, that has become the source of party embarrassment. The problem may reflect the larger ideological dispute between the old guard and the electables, but it has been termed a row between ‘unelected people’ and ‘newcomers in the party’ by the two antagonists. It seems more like an ego-driven, personal spat between two ambitious politicians seeking to enhance their priority and influence. To utter dismay, it has occurred when tensions on the border and region are high, demanding undivided government attention.
Like other public sectors organisations, the Pakistan Television too is facing a severe financial handicap, said to be a deficit of Rs5.8 billion, due to which it has been rendered unable to pay the pensions and medical bills of its bloated army of retirees and employees. Despite this, and also against Supreme Court decision in case of former MD, Ataul Haq Qasmi, the new MD has been granted a fabulous monthly package of reportedly Rs25 lacs, resulting in nearly three-week long worker’s protests and complete standstill of PTV working, as the new incumbent is not being allowed to enter his office. For an elected person, an angry protest is politically, poison. Conversely, Naeemul Haq claims that the federal minister for information has not fully grasped the PM’s philosophy, which is to convert PTV into an independent organisation, like BBC. The Senate was briefed on raging employees’ protest by the information minister on Monday, and he has also agreed to change in his portfolio. The ball is now in the PM’s court, as ultimate arbiter of these ‘issues’ and ‘outside interference’ troubles. But this ugly dispute is best settled swiftly, and in private caucus, for PTI and PTV’s sake.
