PTV director facing sexual harassment charges sacked for poor cricket event coverage

Sources reveal the director was fired for not airing celebrations after Pakistan's win in the ICC Champions Trophy

ISLAMABAD: PTV’s Director Current Affairs Agha Masood Shorish, who was accused of sexually harassing two female anchors, has been fired.

Tanzeela Mazhar, one of the female anchorperson, on Friday tweeted copy of a notification from the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage stating that services of the PTV director were terminated.

Finally Darkest chapter of harrassment,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

However, the reason behind Shorish's termination is not allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him.

According to official sources, Sohrish and two other PTV employees were suspended after they refused to air celebrations following Pakistan's win in the ICC Champions trophy.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the three were first suspended a week after the Champions Trophy and Sohrish has now been terminated.

Tanzeela Mazhar and Yashfeen Jamal — had complained to the PTV management against Agha Masood Shorish for the alleged sexual advances and harassment during and after working hours.

A five-member inquiry committee – consisting of officials from the PTV and the information ministry – started probing in November 24 last year and submitted its report on January 26.



Masood Shorish was on forced leave since December last year.

The issue became talk of the town in January this year when both anchorpersons, especially Mazhar took to Twitter, discussing the issue and questioning members of the inquiry committee for raising ‘controversial questions’.

Also on January 20, PTV issued a circular stating that ‘certain’ PTV employees were using social media to comment on matters that were currently under inquiry. It asked all such people to avoid discussing the issue in public.