Senate panel questions: PTV about promoting without merit

Senator insists PTV is a national organisation and hence, there should be no violations of rules.

ISLAMABAD:

Saying he has evidence that merit rules were violated during appointments and promotions made in Pakistan Television (PTV), Senator Kamil Ali Agha warned of sending the proof to the National Accountability Bureau if investigations are not held through an inquiry committee.

He was presiding over the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Thursday.

He asked questions from PTV managing director Muhammad Malick and Information Secretary Dr Nazeer Saeed about officers at the state-owned television getting promotions without merit.

Agha insisted that PTV is a national organisation and hence, there should be no violations of rules. An anchorperson was asked to be removed but instead of dismissing him, he was appointed director sports after a fake advertisement was published.

According to officials, the appointment was made on the directions of the information secretary despite a stay order from the Islamabad High Court. This is not the first time the information ministry has ignored court orders.

Malick promised that soon he will set up a committee and present its report to the standing committee.

Meanwhile, the information secretary’s statement of former acting PTV MD Mustafa Kamal Qazi being appointed in violation of the seniority rule also astonished the committee members. Agha also pointed out that misuse of funds has been a continued practice at PTV for the many months, where even a grade-6 employee gets promoted to grade 17. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2014.