ISLAMABAD: The information ministry removed Arshad Khan from the position of acting managing director of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) on Thursday.

Retired Colonel Hassan Immad, the PTV Director, has been given the additional charge of managing director for the time being.

Arshad Khan, a member of the PTV’s board of directors, was made acting MD of the PTV in November last year.

“The notification of his appointment as acting MD has been withdrawn by the ministry,” an official of the information ministry said.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had been openly opposing the appointment of Arshad Khan whereas other senior aides of Prime Minister Imran Khan, particularly his special assistant Naeemul Haq, favoured him.

A case against Arshad Khan’s appointment is pending in the Islamabad High Court. The petitioner contended that making Arshad Khan acting managing director of the PTV and appointing him as chairman of its board of directors were against the law and the Supreme Court’s judgement.

He further argued the apex court had given a deadline of May 7 to the government to appoint a permanent MD for the PTV and that the government was already in the process of doing so. It had received 42 applications for the job, according to the petitioner.

The selection committee, headed by the information minister, is scheduled to meet today (Friday) for short-listing of applicants for the slot.

The government is likely to appoint a regular MD for the PTV by the end of this month.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2019