Renowned anchorperson and lawyer Shahzada Naeem Bokhari has been appointed as an independent director and chairperson of the Pakistan Television Corporation’s (PTV) Board, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 166 of the Companies Act, 2017, the Federal Government is pleased to appoint Shahzada Naeem Bokhari as Independent Director of Pakistan Television Corporation Board,” the notification read. “The government has also approved Bokhari’s nomination as Chairman, PTVC Board in line with the Pakistan Television Corporation’s Memorandum & Article of Association (Article 95/95A).”
“The Chairman shall, unless he resigns earlier, hold office for a period of 3 years. The Board of Directors, PTVC is directed to ratify his nomination as Chairman,” the notification said.
In September 2020, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had declared the appointment of PTV chairman Arshad Khan and independent directors on the state broadcaster’s board as illegal in a verdict issued by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.
According to a Profit report published last week, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had suggested the federal cabinet to keep the composition of the PTVC Board to eight members, with three independent members. The ministry also forwarded a panel of nine candidates against the positions of three independent directors.
In addition, the ministry proposed the name of Naeem Bokhari for the PTVC board chairman’s slot.
Other candidates for independent members included Muhammad Ayaz Kalyar, Aamir Malik, Syed Waseem Raza, Syed Sajjad Hasan Jafri and Arshad Hasan, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Faisal Qureshi and Ayesha Tammy Haq.
Age relaxation for Shahzada Naeem Bokhari, who is over 65 years of age, was also sought by the info ministry.
