APNS Awards cancelled at 11th hour after PM refuses to attend event
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 19 January 2018
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The All Pakistan Newspapers Society awards were cancelled shortly before the event due to the Prime Minister's refusal to attend. Protocol issues and controversies surrounding award nominations led to this decision.Summary
ISLAMABAD – The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) awards ceremony slated for January 15 had to be cancelled after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (pictured) refused to attend the event.
Pakistan Today reported Friday the APNS blundered by sidestepping Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and also nominated for an award, an advertising agency being probed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The paper said initially the prime minister had consented to attend the ceremony but on learning about lack of protocol and fairness, he refused.
As a result of this the APNS had to cancel the event at the 11th hour, inconveniencing many guests who had arrived in Islamabad for the awards ceremony.
Pakistan Today, quoting an unnamed official, said: “The information minister only came to know about the event when the prime minister asked (her) about the list of award winners.
“Upon investigating, it was revealed that the winners were from such advertising agencies that were accused of financial discrepancies. One advertising agency was being given five awards whose owner is behind bars for financial embezzlement, while several of its executives were also being interrogated by the NAB,” the paper quoted the official as saying.
Photo: AP
Key Points
- APNS awards scheduled for January 15 cancelled last minute.
- PM Abbasi declined attendance over protocol issues.
- Information Minister was unaware of the event until late notice.
- Awards included nominations from agencies under NAB investigation.
- Guest inconvenience reported due to the abrupt cancellation.
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