Faisal Javed, Irfan Siddiqui lock horns over Sharifs’ Avenfield flats

Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Chairman Senator Faisal Javed and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Irfan Siddiqui engaged in a heated argument on Wednesday over the former's remarks related to Sharif family's Avenfield apartments.

Speaking during the committee’s meeting today, PTI Senator Faisal suggested putting the London apartments up for auction to boost state-run PTV's finances.

"Irfan Siddiqui sahib, you don't like PTV News [but] I like it as no one watches it," he said and went on to add, "PTV puts [PML-N President] Shehbaz Sharif on-air for two hours".

"Giving space to the opposition leader is not a doomsday scenario," Siddiqui replied. "The channel also broadcasts other leaders of smaller stature," he quipped.

Javed in response said if the Avenfield Apartments were sold and given to PTV, then the channel would improve too.

Also read: Avenfield: Maryam’s appeal fixed for hearing

At this, the PML-N leader asked the senator to apologise for the “personal attack”, and added "or else I would walk out of the session as well as resign from the membership of the committee".

"You have ruined a good atmosphere by resorting to a personal attack," Siddiqui remarked. Faisal said he had only responded to the PML-N leader's statement.

Adamant, the PML-N leader said, "I had not mentioned Bani Gala", and added, "the one who is being accused of fleeing the country after looting it is a prominent leader and people still love him".

Later, Senator Faisal directed PTV authorities to restore the royalties of veteran actors, and tabled a proposal to establish a PTV welfare fund within the committee.

He also issued directives to the concerned to share details regarding the fund and the mechanism of its action with the strategy committee.

Also read: Legal process ‘not followed’ in Avenfield case

The senator observed that Pakistan did not have any international standard channel at present. "If you go to a hotel abroad, there are Indian channels everywhere, which keep on peddling propaganda against Pakistan. There is a need for a world-class Pakistani English news channel."

He was informed that the committee had planned to bring a better quality English news channel. A new building will also be constructed soon in this connection.

“The institution (PTV) is already in lossed, so what is the need of a new building? PTV World can be further improved,” remarked Siddiqui.

The chairman of the committee termed public-private partnership "a good thing and it is one of the best ways to improve the organisation".