ISLAMABAD: The administration of Pakistan Television (PTV) has appointed Dr Nauman Niaz on the vacant post of director sports in clear violation of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders.

On February 4, 2014, IHC Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi had restrained the PTV administration from filling the post.

The judge hearing a petition filed by Junaid Chughti, senior controller sports of PTV, challenging the appointment process, directed the administration that “final decision (regarding the appointment) shall not be initiated till the next date of hearing.” The petitioner said the appointment was against the “PTV Employees Service Rules”.

According to him, under the rules PTV administration could fill the said post by appointing a senior most controller, and the post could only be advertised if it failed to find a suitable candidate.

IHC after issuing the restraining order on February 4 adjourned the hearing till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.

The PTV director administration and personnel Tasnim Kausar, however, issued an office order for the appointment of Dr Niaz.

Interestingly, the letter bore the date of February 19, 2013, when Ms Kausar was not holding the office.

Insiders told Dawn that PTV which had been running without any proper managing director for the last several months is at the mercy of information ministry.

The appointment of Dr Niaz has been made at a time when PTV is going to renew a deal with Ten Sports for airing live cricket matches including Asia Cup and T-20 world cup.

Dr Niaz, a physician by profession, is running two clinics in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and PTV administration issued his appointment letter at the behest of senior officials of the information ministry.

Despite repeated attempts, secretary information Nazir Saeed could not be contacted.

PTV director administration and personnel Ms Kausar when contacted said they were facing problems because the post of director sports had been lying vacant for several months.

She said the appointment of Dr Niaz had been made after getting legal advice from the PTV’s lawyers.

Regarding issuance of back dated appointment letter Ms Kausar said that the letter was issued on Feb 19 this year and the back date was mentioned erroneously.