Decision for new MD PTV yet to come from PM House
Islamabad, Pakistan: With the departure of former Managing Director of state run television known as Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) Muhammad Maalik, administrative changes have taken place as Director Administration has been changed while Head of Current Affairs of PTV World resigned.
Col Hassan Immad Mohammadi has taken over the charge as Director Administration from Waseem Pervaiz who was officiating Finance and Administration. This was a strange situation that one man was holding the charges of Finance and Administration because Finance Department is known as a Check on Administrative expenditures in any Corporation but former MD gave both charges to one person against traditions and norms of PTV.
Meanwhile, Head of Current Affairs PTV World Owais Tohid popularly known as OT has resigned from his post. There are possibilities that his resignation will be followed by 5 more resignations from different departments.
PTV insiders believe that no new MD PTV will be placed immediately and Chairman PTV Attaul Haq Qasmi will continue to keep dual charge. Sources in PM House claim that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif offered PTV MD job to world acclaimed producer and Oscar winner Sharman Obaid Chunaiy but she did not give positive answer. While name of former MD PTV Arshad Khan is being considered also.
It looks that former Managing Director of state run television known as Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) Muhammad Maalik has lost first round of tug of war as his contract was not extended but sources claim that he is still trying hard to get the slot back.
On the other hand, former MD PTV Yousaf Baig Mirza is still in run to recapture his position. According to sources, former MD PTV Yousaf Baig Mirza has been using all available contacts to win the slot as he had been MD PTV a number of times and he was the choice of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif who brought him from United Kingdom and placed him as MD PTV first time during his 97-99 tenure. However, Mirza served army rulers successfully after Sharif’s government was booted out. Baig was consequently opted by PPP government for a long time. He is a man who has served all political and apolitical circles of Pakistan.
Government has three options in hand including advertising the post of MD PTV in newspapers and placing someone from Ministry of Information as new MD PTV.
Top two runners for PTV slots have different handicaps as Muhammad Maalik qualification is just Bachelor of Arts (BA) against the post that traditionally required a master degree holder while Yousaf Baig Mirza faces audit paras in the Auditor General of Pakistan report for year 2014. Report claims that 773 million financial loss were reported under his command in one year due to alleged financial mismanagement, corruption and nepotism. The report said that corruption and nepotism was embedded in PTV.
Final decision of appointment of MD PTV lies with Prime Minister Mian Muhamnmad Nawaz Sharif therefore everybody whosoever is running for race for the appointment of MD PTV is trying hard to get the attention of Prime Minister and his staff.
