July 31, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 27, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 30: State-run PTV finds itself on the horns of a dilemma — whom to obey in celebrating the country’s Independence Day – the Prime Minister’s House or the Presidency?

As directed by the former it was preparing to hold a cultural evening in connection with the Independence Day celebrations at the Prime Minister’s House when orders arrived from the Aiwan-i-Sadr that it must be held at the Presidency as had been the practice for the past five years.

“We are in a fix now and waiting for the return of our chairman from the United States to resolve the dilemma,” a PTV source told Dawn on Wednesday. Since 2003, the Pakistan Television (PTV) had been arranging a live cultural show at the lawns of the Presidency between the night of August 13 and 14 in which famous artistes and singers performed before a VVIP audience. President Pervez Musharraf, his family members, the prime minister, federal ministers and other government functionaries used to grace the occasion. Last year, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz with his several cabinet members also attended the programme which was produced by Ashraf Azeem and former managing director Yousuf Baig Mirza.

According to the sources, PTV chairman Dr Shahid Masood received a letter from the Prime Minister’s House a few days back directing him to arrange this year’s Independence Day show at the Prime Minister’s House, instead of the Presidency.

Accordingly, the PTV started preparations for the show. When these arrangements were in the final phase, the sources said, the PTV chairman received another letter, written by spokesman for the president Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi, insisting that the PTV show should be held at the Presidency as usual.

They said the contents of the letter showed that the Presidency was very angry over this move of the Prime Minister House as Mr Qureshi had strictly directed the PTV bosses to hold the show at the Presidency at all costs.

“The PTV is in a fix as it does not want to become a party in the fight between two giants,” said a senior official. He said the PTV was already under duress due to the mismanagement that marred Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s maiden address to the nation on July 19. “Many PTV officials are still facing inquiries and no one wants to put himself or herself into more trouble due to the ongoing tussle between the Presidency and the PM House,” he added.

Despite repeated attempts, Lt-Gen (Retd) Rashid Qureshi could not be contacted for his comments on this awkward but not unexpected situation.

The outcome would show where the real powers lies.