IHC imposes Rs100,000 fine on petitioner challenging PTV digitization project

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 10 years ago

Join our WhatsApp channel

IHC imposes Rs100,000 fine on petitioner challenging PTV digitization project

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Wednesday fined Tahir Mehmood, a former Accountant General of Pakistan Rs100,000 for challenging a Pak-China agreement to digitalize the state-run Pakistan Television.

The petitioner, Tahir, said the Pak-China agreement to digitalize the state TV was in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

The counsel for Information Ministry and PTV Shahid Mehmood Khokhar, however, told the court that the agreement has nothing to do with the PPRA rules as Chinese government has provided grant-in-aid to Pakistan worth $50 million for the digitalization of PTV.

Khokhar said that no Pakistani institution or agency will execute the project as this is not a loan.

A MoU for the project was signed in 2012 and the recent visit of the Chinese President has endorsed the agreement.

Chinese government has given the grant to a company named ZTE to execute the project. The court dismissed the case while imposing Rs100,000 fine on the petitioner.

Dive Deeper

JournalismPakistan.com launches dedicated Middle East section to deepen regional media coverage

November 07, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com launches a Middle East section to expand regional reporting. New coverage will follow JP’s editorial SOPs—verification, balanced sourcing, and two-stage review—placed between Asia and World on the Home Page.

Russia slams Pakistan’s Frontier Post for ‘Western bias’; newspaper hits back

November 07, 2025: Russia accuses Pakistan’s Frontier Post of anti-Russia bias; the paper defends press freedom and independence. A diplomatic clash over media narratives.

Javed Chaudhry signs off from Express News after 18 years on ‘Kal Tak’

November 07, 2025: Veteran journalist Javed Chaudhry bids farewell to Express News after 18 years on Kal Tak, marking the end of an era in Pakistani television journalism.

Why only Nukta, Mr. Minister? Media workers question government's selective support

November 06, 2025: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s job offer to Nukta staff draws criticism as hundreds of journalists across Pakistan face layoffs, salary delays, and job insecurity.

Information Minister Tarar announces jobs for all 37 laid-off Nukta employees

November 06, 2025: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announces jobs for 37 laid-off Nukta employees, saying they will be placed at digital platforms within 48 hours amid growing media uncertainty.

Faisal Chaudhry’s viral one-liner on G for Gharidah steals the show

November 05, 2025: PTI’s Faisal Chaudhry’s witty reply to Gharidah Farooqi on GTV’s “G for Gharidah” goes viral as a clip from their debate over the 27th Amendment sparks reactions online.

A digital dream falters: Nukta cuts 37 jobs in Pakistan after only one year

November 05, 2025: Digital platform Nukta lays off 37 employees in Pakistan, including journalists and producers, highlighting the financial struggles facing new media ventures in a shrinking job market.

Talat Hussain says offensive viral clip was edited out, not aired on Samaa TV

November 04, 2025: Talat Hussain denies airing the viral clip showing Sher Afzal Marwat’s vulgar remark, saying it was not part of his Samaa TV show.

Newsroom

Myanmar’s media crackdown deepens as UN, rights groups sound alarm

November 07, 2025 UN and rights groups warn of escalating media repression in Myanmar, citing arrests, censorship, and digital surveillance that threaten to erase independent journalism.

Iran tightens digital control with new wave of news site blockages

November 07, 2025 Iran has intensified online censorship, blocking independent news sites and social channels, sparking protests from journalist groups over the growing suppression of press freedom.

Six journalists summoned in Turkey over coverage of detained opposition mayor

November 07, 2025 Six Turkish journalists have been summoned over coverage of opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, raising fresh concerns about press freedom and political repression in Turkey.

Record journalist deaths in Gaza highlight deepening impunity crisis

November 07, 2025 Over 285 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 2023, exposing a severe impunity crisis and raising calls for global action to protect press freedom.

Arab states tighten digital content laws, raising concerns over press freedom

November 07, 2025 Arab states are tightening digital content laws, with new regulations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt raising fresh concerns about media freedom and online expression.