ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Television again became ‘headless’ after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared illegal the appointment of Mohammad Malick as its managing director (MD).

Hearing a petition, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui observed that the appointment of Mr Malick was not transparent. He directed the federal government to fill the post in a transparent manner and in accordance with the set procedure.

In April last year, Justice Siddiqui had declared the appointment of Yousuf Baig Mirza as the PTV head illegal after which the state-run channel remained ‘headless’ till February this year when Malick took over the charge.

From April 2013 till the appointment of Mr Malick, the PTV was headed by senior director Mustafa Kamal Qazi.

A couple of months ago, Mr Qazi challenged the appointment of Mr Malick. In his petition, Mr Qazi alleged that the committee constituted for the appointment of the PTV chief had recommended the names of Jamal Shah and Mr Malick. He claimed that the committee had awarded 67 marks to Mr Shah and 66 to Mr Malick and forwarded their names to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who selected Mr Malick.

The petition also alleged that being only a graduate Mr Malick did not qualify for the post.

Nazir Jawad, the counsel for the PTV, however, maintained that the prime minister had appointed Mr Malick under his discretionary powers.

He said Mr Malick had earlier worked as the controller PTV and possessed administrative experience which Mr Shah lacked.

Mohammad Akram Sheikh, who also represented the PTV, contended that the petition was frivolous and liable to be dismissed.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2014