The huge loss of millions of rupees is expected to Pakistan Television (PTV) due to the negligence and irresponsibility of former managing director PTV Arshad Khan.
According to the reliable sources of PTV and Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting, Arshad Khan had signed contracts with two different
companies at same time by violating the laws by giving broadcasting
rights of PTV transmissions in North America.
The 1st party which had signed agreement with PTV had filed a case
against PTV and due to improper defence by PTV can cause of a huge loss.
Former judge of Supreme Court Fakharuddin G. Ibrahim has given the
responsibility of intermediation by Islamabad High Court and he had
conducted a number of hearings.
The investigation team of FIA in its investigation report has pointed
out negligence of Arshad Khan for not taking serious steps regarding
the hearing of the case.
According to sources, in 2005 when Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad was the
minister for information and broadcasting and Arshad Khan was serving as
managing director PTV, at that time PTV signed an agreement with Prime
Television Corporation Limited (PTCL) for five years of giving
broadcasting rights for the transmission of PTV at North America;
meanwhile PTV violating the laws signed another agreement without
canceling the first one with another local company Dish Network. In
response of this agreement PTCL registered a case against PTV at
Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The Islamabad High Court appointed former judge of Supreme Court as
umpire for intermediation. While sources said that, the FIA Anti
Corruption Unit also conducted an investigation in this case and
presented a report to the umpire stating that PTV would have to face
loss of billions of rupees due to the negligence and non interest of PTV
in this case.
The report further says that Arshad Khan had not defended the case in
the court of its level even he knows PTV would face billions of rupees
loss in this case.
Sources said that actually Arshad Khan had presented a junior officer
as witness before the umpire; meanwhile PTV legal counsel complained of
weak witness and requested Arshad Khan for not appointing him as
witness office but Arshad rejected counsel application.
PTV instead of appointment of senior official has directed controller
finance Shahid Mehmood to appear before the court along with the
witness Ghufran Ahmed who is Assistant Controller of Accounts.
The report says that no single person of PTV’s legal team has been
included in the case and replying statement presented before the umpire
was very short and having lack of proper details and strong arguments.
The reports suggested that it shows that Arshad khan cannot defend the
rights of PTV properly and further investigation are needed in this case
and explanation should be summoned from Arshad Khan.
On the other hand sources leveled allegation that Arshad Khan along
with the information minister of that time earned a huge amount and said
that the umpire conducted a number of hearings; meanwhile Athar
Minullah representing PTCL in this case while Aftab Ahamd khan is
defending PTV in the case.
Sources said that the witness presented before the court on behalf of
PTV was very week and Arshad Khan failed to appoint a proper and
experienced person for witness, while the concerned department suggested
Arshad Khan the despite of presenting any other person as witness
before the umpire he himself should appear before the court but Arshad
Khan rejected this suggestion and directed Ghufran Ahmad to appear
before the court as witness.
Sources said that after the first hearing the legal counsel of PTV
Aftab Ahmad was not satisfied to the statements of Ghufran Ahmad as
witness and he complained to Arshad Khan regarding this and despite of a
complete briefing Ghufran remained unable to prove his stance before
the court with facts.
After the first hearing, Ghufran Ahmad forwarded an application to
repel his name as witness from the case but Arshad Khan refused his
application.
The second witness of the case Controller Finance Shahid Mehmood in a
written statement said that he did not have any relation with this case
and he had severely protested before the MD PTV at that time while
including his name in this case, adding that the MD directed him to
prepare a summary and look after the case and also directed to appear
before the umpire as second witness.
According to the in-charge of legal affairs of PTV no body else has
been appeared before the Umpire but Ghufran Ahmad along with Aftab Ahmad
on behalf of PTV.
Arshad Khan replied to “SANA” on contact that everybody knows his
role regarding transparency and he had fulfilled his responsibility
considering it as jihad, adding that he cannot be alleged in misuse of a
single penny, adding that his transparent role had become a crime
whereas some people are involve in conspiracies against him.
He said that he had not breached the agreement with PTCL but he
eliminated the role of PTCL as third party for selling of broadcasting
rights, adding that eliminating the role as third party given benefit to
the PTV not to any body else.
There are interests of other people as third party and they are
trying to gain benefits as third party and said that eliminating the
role of third party PTV earned millions of rupees, Arshad said.
Replying to a question he said that Ghufran Ahmad was associated with
the affairs of broadcasting rights and other people working with
Ghufran Ahmad had been retired and I have no other option than Ghufran
Ahmad, adding that Ghufran Ahmad was feared of appearing before the
court as witness and requested that it was a financial issue so he had
given a person from finance department and Shahid Mehmood has been
appointed, adding that Ghufran Ahmad had intentionally weaken the case. SANA
