Home »Business and Economy » Pakistan » PTV managing-director Malick removed

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday removed the managing-director of Pakistan Television (PTV) Mohammad Malick, declaring his appointment illegal and non-transparent. A single-member bench of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui heard a petition filed by former MD PTV Mustafa Kamal Qazi, who had challenged the appointment of Muhammad Malick as MD PTV.

The bench ruled that ministry of information and broadcasting has failed to fulfil a legal procedure required for the appointment of MD PTV as it is an important position which should be filled in a transparent manner. The court in its order said that the recommendations of the commission established for the said appointment were neglected as the commission had recommended two names for the slot. However, the prime minister handpicked Malick, who was at number two position.

The court said that reports of the Intelligence Bureau regarding Malick were not positive and he had also been declared a defaulter in an advertising ageency run by him and his wife.Justice Siddiqui also directed the government to make a fresh appointment for the slot of MD PTV by adhering the prescribed rules and regulations. The court further said the appointment should be made in light of Supreme Court verdict passed in the Khawaja Asif case which stated the heads of statutory, autonomous, semi-autonomous bodies, regulatory authorities as well as government-controlled corporations, etc, should be appointed through a commission.

During the course of proceedings, Akram Sheikh appeared on behalf of MD PTV Muhammad Malick while Faisal Khan Toru represented the petitioner - Mustafa Kamal Qazi. The petitioner had taken the plea that secretary information and broadcasting exercised his discretion unilaterally in a fanciful manner without application of judicious mind which reflects a flagrant and a sheer violation of principles of natural justice.

"Unfortunately, the respondents instead of complying with the aforesaid clear and categorical order of Islamabad High Court (IHC) and the provisions of Memorandum of Articles of Association of the PTVC Limited and the Companies Ordinance, 1984 acted arbitrarily and without lawful authority in selection process for appointing Managing Director of PTVC," he added.

He took the plea that PTVC is a registered company under Companies Ordinance, 1984 and the whole business of the company is to be run accordingly but the same has been violated by side-tracking the role of statutory Board of Directors under Section 96(iv) of said Memorandum. The petitioner contended that the credentials of the other candidates who fulfil the criteria laid down for the post have been ignored just to accommodate the respondent Malick at a much higher remuneration at the expense of the PTVC against all norms, procedures and past practices

A Chartered Accountant firm was hired to shortlist the candidates by conducting an interview illegally as that firm is meant for the services of accounting and auditing mainly and as such cannot adjudge the suitability and expertise of the candidates for the slot, thus selection through the Board of Directors was ignored wilfully, he added. In his petition he said that the Director Finance, PTVC categorically communicated about the pending of outstanding dues against the respondent Muhammad Malick; hence the selection of Malick being defaulter is not permissible under the law and needs to be struck down.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014


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