IHC questions inflated salaries at PTV

Tells govt to consult finance ministry on fixing packages of state television’s executives

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has been directed to affix salaries and benefits of future employees of the state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.

These directions were issued in a detailed, 42-page verdict issued by Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Friday in a case against illegal appointments in the state broadcaster.

In the written verdict, the court has questioned the huge salaries and other benefits given to some in PTVC.

The federal government was told that in the future, they should determine salaries and benefits of PTVC employees in consultation with the finance ministry.

The court also struck down the appointment of Rashid Ali Khan on the board of PTV. The court noted that Rashid also holds the post of director at an internet company which receives a monthly subscription fee from PTVC.

Moreover, the court noted that Rashid serves as the director of nine state-run companies apart from PTVC, including the Bank of Khyber and Namal University in Mianwali. The court noted that as per the law, an individual cannot serve as a director on more than five public sector companies.

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It subsequently declared Rashid’s appointment to the PTV board as null and void for violating the Corporate Governance Rules 2013.

It further declared the appointment of Arshad Khan to the PTV board as illegal, noting that he was not listed in either the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) databank nor could he be considered an independent director because he had drawn salary for serving as acting managing director of PTVC without any break.

It further noted that Rashid, Farmanullah Jan and Zohair Khaliq, who are all over 65-years-of-age were appointed when the government never issued an age waiver for them.

The appointment of PTV's board of directors appointed by the government has been declared illegal while the appointment of MD PTV Amir Manzoor has been declared valid.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2020.