KARACHI, April 26: A large number of ARY quiz programme winners have complained that they have not received the promised jewellery made from one kilogram of gold.

One of the winners, Akhlaq Ahmed, told Dawn on Friday that he had won one kilogram of gold jewellery at the ARY SAF STAR GOLD QUIZ held on Dec 23 last year. “On Dec 29, 2002, I received a letter from ARY Communications informing me that I was entitled to receiving my prize of one kilogram jewellery on the provision of the copies of membership card and national identity card. To this day, I have not received the promised one kilogram jewellery.”

When contacted, the chief operating officer of the ARY Communications, Javed Hasan Ansari, admitted that apart from Mr Ahmed a large number of ARY winners had not received their prizes. “Because of operational factors, the distribution of gold prizes has been delayed. At present, we are distributing the prizes won by participants in August. Mr Akhlaq, as well as those who won their gold prizes in December, will receive their prizes within four months. The delay has been caused by the fact that the Pakistan Telecommunication Company has yet to pay us the dues of 900 calls. The PTCL dues go towards the distribution of gold prizes,” he explained.

Mr Ansari added that his company would issue letters to those who were waiting for their prizes for a long time.