PESHAWAR: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education, Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, has rejected claims of the federal government and media reports regarding the award of a multi-billion rupee ad contract of print and electronic media campaign to a company in which certain PTI members supposedly hold interests.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Friday, Mr Ghani termed the reports as a malicious propaganda attempt intended to defame the provincial government by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz which wanted to bury the corruption revealed against its leadership in the Panama Papers.

Clarifying the matter, the PTI lawmaker said that under the publicity plan an advertisement was issued inviting advertising agencies to register themselves with the provincial government.

He said that 18 advertising companies appeared in the steering committee meeting and gave their presentations in which 13 companies were shortlisted. The meeting was chaired by Mr Ghani.

Ghani rejects claims, media reports about award of contract

The CM’s adviser refuted allegations levelled earlier by PML-N leaders Musadiq Malik and Daniyal Aziz that an advertisement contract was being awarded to a company in which senior PTI members Faisal Javed and Iftikhar Durrani held interests.

He termed statements of the PML-N leaders baseless and void of any facts. He stated that the provincial government would file a lawsuit against PML-N for defamation and misleading the public through false information.

Mr Ghani added that the provincial government and the directorate of information had a policy in place according to which advertisements were distributed to the regional, provincial and national media.

He clarified that advertisement contracts would be given on merit and that no company had been awarded any ad contract.

The decision would be made after consultations with the chief minister and authorities concerned.

“Therefore, the allegations that contract is being provided to the advertising agency in which Faisal Javed had interests are completely baseless,” Mr Ghani said.

He said that Mr Javed no longer worked in any ad company and had devoted himself to the party affairs.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2016