Maryam admits giving ads to favourite TV channels; FIA to hold inquiry
PML-N and its favourite media houses may face another inquiry.
PML-N Vice President Maryam had admitted yesterday that the leaked audio clip in which she can be heard issuing instructions to stop advertisements to some TV channels was genuine.
Her admission, while responding to a reporter during a press conference, has kicked up a storm in the country.
In the eight-second clip, the PML-N leader can be head instructing: “No advertisement will be given to Samaa, Channel 24, ARY and 92 News.”
24چینل کو، 92کو،سماءکواوراےآروائی کوبالکل کوئی ایڈنہیں جائےگا۔۔۔مریم نوازکی ن لیگ کے دورحکومت میں دیے گئے احکامات کی مبینہ آڈیولیک pic.twitter.com/Mmx1jnEAB5
— Ammad Yousaf (@AmmadYousaf) November 21, 2021
The PML-N vice president said the audio clip is old from the time when she was running the party’s media cell.
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According to Dawn, Maryam Nawaz was managing the Strategic Media Communication Cell (SMCC) at the Prime Minister’s Office during 2014. The cell was set up as part of the information ministry with the approval of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The cell, later, had turned into a powerful unit under the supervision of Maryam Nawaz.
Later in the day, Information Minister Chaudhry and Energy Minister Hammad Azhar addressing a press conference said that an investigation will be conducted against Maryam Nawaz and her blue-eyed TV channels after her admission of controlling ads.
Fawad said PML-N’s media cell had used about Rs10 billion to fund federal government advertisements while it also controlled ads in Punjab province. Maryam Nawaz gave money to her favourite TV channels, he added.
The federal minister said that in total about Rs15-18 billion were distributed among favorite media groups and journalists.
According to record, Geo and Jang was the biggest beneficiary of the government advertisements with receiving over Rs3 billion for ads.
He said that handling of public funds by a private person is a crime as per the Federal Investigation Agency.
The federal minister said that the government would conduct an inquiry into the this matter.
