Fawad Chaudhry, Marriyum Aurangzeb discuss PTV crisis

Meeting takes place at federal minister's chambers at Parliament House

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry met on Monday Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb to discuss issues of staff and pensioners of the state-run broadcaster, Pakistan Television (PTV).

The meeting took place at the federal minister's chambers at Parliament House.

According to sources, Chaudhry and Aurangzeb discussed issues relating to the appointment of PTV Managing Director Arshad Khan, whose position the information minister has opposed.

The PML-N spokesperson, the sources added, asked the information minister to take steps to immediately resolve the problems being faced by PTV employees and pensioners.

Divisions and rifts within the government’s media team surfaced last week when the information minister said some special assistants and advisers to the PM were backing the incumbent MD, who was taking a huge salary package despite the financial crisis at PTV.

The information minister is unhappy with Khan's performance and wants him to step down "voluntarily".

“The PTV MD has hijacked the situation as the PTV Headquarter was closed for 23 days,” said the minister while talking to media earlier in the day. “The entire PTV is on one side while the MD on the other."

Insiders said the PML-N leader also raised the issue of implementing the country's film and cultural policy, and the Commission for the Right to Information.

Aurangzeb, the sources added, stressed the need to bring the matter of media regulatory authority in the Standing Committee for Information.