Former finance minister Ishaq Dar has refused the Supreme Court order of paying penalty in a case pertaining to the appointment of Attaul Haq Qasmi as MD of PTV.
In a statement, Ishaq Dar contended that the Ministry of Finance has no role in the appointment. He took the plea that the prime minister approved the appointment of Attaul Haq Qasmi as MD PTV on the recommendations of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Finance Ministry accepted Qasmi’s perks and privileges on the basis of a summary received from the Establishment Division.
Dar said that the salary of Rs 1.5 million per month was determined keeping in view the professional standing and experience of Qasmi. For any extra expenditures, the PTV administration should be held accountable, he argued. Dar said he had informed the court about his position in this regard on July 15.
Published in Daily Times, November 12th 2018.
