LAHORE: Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) Director Current Affairs Agha Masood Shorish has been removed from his post at the state-run television channel over multiple accusations which include harassment, nepotism, and negligence in the broadcasting of breaking news.
Shorish had come to the fore earlier in the year, when back in March, PTV journalist Tanzeela Mazhar had resigned from her post at the state-run channel after it failed to properly address her harassment complaint. The PTV journalist had complained in January that she was harassed by Agha Masood Shorish, and on Friday revealed that the accused had been punished.
Tanzeela tweeted a thank you to everyone who supported her, saying “Finally Darkest chapter of harassment, corruption, and nepotism is closed.thank you everyone who stood by us to make this happen.”
Finally Darkest chapter of harassment,corruption and nepotism is closed.thank you everyone who stood by us to make this happen
Special thanks to @ShaziaAttaMarri @NasimZehra @marvisirmed @Maria_Memon @MunizaeJahangir @SsamanJay @SaeedGhani1 @Fereeha @asmashirazi pic.twitter.com/c1xHwSSRZV— Tanzeela Mazhar (@TenzilaMazhar) November 17, 2017
A five-member enquiry committee – consisting of officials from the PTV and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry – started the probe in Nov 24 against Shorish on the anchorpersons’ complaint.
According to details, the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi with the Information Ministry releasing a subsequent statement.
Sources said that during the meeting, the PM said that the behaviour displayed by Shorish was unacceptable and could by no means be tolerated. The termination comes in wake of a recent move by the government to raise awareness over the issue of harassment with a number of radio and television adverts advising women about their rights and what procedure to follow in such situations.
The notice removing Shorish from his post signed by PTV Controller Administration and Personnel Abu Rashid, read “On the directive of Ministry of Interior, the services of Agha Masood Shorish, Director Current Affairs, are hereby terminated.”
Back in March, when Tanzeela Mazhar had first come forward with her issues on social media, she had said in her statement that “I regret that the higher management of PTV chose to save one person over the reputation of PTV… so I find it very difficult to continue working. Things were made very difficult for me to work and I was facing huge psychological torture every day,” she said.
Back then, Shorish had attempted to file a defamation case against the complaining former PTV employee and another former TV journalist. The women – Tanzeela Mazhar and Yashfeen Jamal – had shared their workplace sexual harassment experience on social media and other TV channels.
