PTV management asked to conduct inquiry against former MD

A parliamentary body on Wednesday asked Pakistan Television's (PTV) top management to conduct an inquiry against former PTV managing director (MD) Muhammad Malik for his alleged involvement in corruption and nepotism as head of the state-run channel. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcast and National Heritage which met with Pir Mohammad Aslam Bodla in the chair directed PTV management to conduct an inquiry to examine how former PTV MD had allegedly committed corruption and submit a report before the committee in this regard.
Earlier, majority members of the committee insisted that the case of corruption by former MD PTV be referred to NAB and an inquiry should be conducted by the Bureau. Later, the committee decided that first top PTV management would conduct an inquiry in this regard. MNA Mian Muhammad Farooq alleged that former MD PTV had committed corruption, made illegal appointments and inducted a number of favourites in PTV on hefty salaries.
He said the case should be send to NAB to conduct an inquiry in this regard. MNA Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry and Dr Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon also insisted that the matter related to the alleged involvement of former PTV MD in corruption should be referred to NAB.
The minister said that the allegations against former MD PTV Mohammad Malik of hiring people on huge salaries could not be proven in the court and there are more glaring examples of hiring people on huge salaries by the previous MDs of PTV, especially during the era of Dr Shahid Masood. "The previous MDs of PTV had hired people on heavy salaries who showed no output," he said.
Syed Imran Gardezi, MD PTV, said that PTV director finance would conduct an inquiry regarding financial and administration affairs and would submit a report before the committee. He also informed the committee that majority of the equipment and studios in PTV have become outdated and currently PTV has no proper equipment for producing dramas. MNA Marriyum Aurangzeb saId: "PTV will become another PIA within 10 or 15 years if proper HR review of PTV was not conducted."
Muhammad Tallal Chaudhry said that provision of modern equipments including DSNGs, to PTV is a must for improving the ratings of the state-run channel. The committee also recommended that PTV may reinvigorate its in-house drama production to restore the grandeur of the national television. MD PTV briefed the committee that PTV was established to disseminate accurate and authentic information besides providing healthy and value-oriented entertainment. PTV is the largest television network in the country covering 90 percent of the population and it has performed well despite financial constraints and outdated equipments, according to him.
He said a new business plan for making PTV a self reliant and profit generating entity was underway which would be implemented soon. PTV has played an important role in preserving ideological boundaries, cultural values and national heritage of the country, according to him.