ISLAMABAD - Chairman Pakistan Television Cooperation Attaul Haq Qasmi has resigned from the post allegedly due to a tussle with Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzaib.
Sources said that the Ministry of Information did not take Qasmi into confidence over handing over additional charge of MD PTV to Secretary Information Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera.
The sources said that Qasmi was also annoyed over Sukhera’s action against several officers of PTV who were considered close to him. Furthermore, they said, the ministry was taking decisions regarding PTV affairs without taking its chairman on board. The sources said that Qasmi had sent his resignation to the secretary information.
Meanwhile, the federal government has given additional charge of PTV MD to Secretary Information Sukhera.
The post of MD PTV has been lying vacant for the last one year after the completion of three-year tenure of former MD PTV Muhammad Malick.
The Establishment Division issued a notification on December 11 in this regard, which stated: “Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, a BS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, presently posted as Secretary Information, Broadcasting Division is assigned additional charge of the post of Managing Director Pakistan Television Corporation in addition to his own duties for a period of three months or till the posting of regular incumbent whichever is earlier.”
Interestingly, the federal government has withdrawn this notification and issued a new notification on December 12 and removed the specific period of three months.
The new notification issued by establishment Division said: “in partial modification and continuation of this notification of even number dated 11-12-2017, Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, a BS-22 officer of PAS, Secretary Information and Broadcasting Division is assigned additional charge of the post of Managing Director PTVC in addition to his own duties till further orders”. On the other hand, information ministry had advertised the post of MD two months ago but it failed to appoint a permanent head of corporation. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had also directed the information ministry to appoint a head of PTV as soon as possible.