Naeem Bukhari Turning PTV Into Royal Mess, Imtiaz Gul Quits

The series of resignations by top-notch journalists from Pakistan Television Network (PTV) continues with the latest one being Senior journalist and analyst Imtiaz Gul bidding farewell to the national television which the journalists’ fraternity believes that PTV is turning into one royal mess under Naeem Bukhari.

Senior journalist and analyst Imtiaz Gul took to the microblogging site Twitter to share the news of his resignation from PTV after he was taken off from his talk show called ‘Nukta-i-Imtiaz’ for unknown reasons.

Imtiaz Gul is a renowned journalist who has contributed immensely to journalism in Pakistan.

In a tweet, the journalist said that he risked his journalistic career to contribute to the development of the state-run broadcaster but unprofessional attitudes left him with no option but to leave.

I have resigned from PTV after I was taken off my show for unexplained reasons.I staked my journalistic career for+contribution to national TV but unhealthy,unprofessional, psychophantic conditions left me with no option @ImranKhanPTI @NasimZehra @Fahdhusain @Matrixxmedia

— Imtiaz Gul (@ImtiazGul60) January 5, 2021

Speaking to News360, Imtiaz Gul said, “My contract as a host for the show on PTV was expiring in February 2021. Yet I was removed from the show for unknown reasons”.

He had joined PTV in May 2020. He also said that he had joined PTV reluctantly after leaving CNN with the aim of serving for the National TV channel.

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Imtiaz Gul added that he had been unhappy with the senior management who had caused major changes due to which senior journalists like Owais Tauheed had also resigned earlier.

A senior journalist Quatrina Hosain endorsed the allegations of the sacked journalist.

She was also recently fired from PTV when the female journalist was serving as the Head of News and Current Affairs.

I am so sorry about this. The tragedy unfolding is that no professional/competent anchor or journalist will now want to join PTV. Watching all our work being destroyed is tough

— Quatrina (@QuatrinaHosain) January 5, 2021

Commenting on Gul’s decision, senior journalist Amir Zia regretted that journalists who joined PTV had to leave because of the unprofessional atmosphere.

Losing professionals like @ImtiazGul60, @OwaisTohid is not a good sign for #PTV… Arbitrary decisions create unnecessary controversies & are harmful for the organisation. https://t.co/iEFqAhHTLK

— Amir Zia (@AmirZia1) January 5, 2021

Fahd Husain, Dawn’s resident editor in Islamabad, expressed his disappointment with Imtiaz Gul’s resignation and stated that the situation at PTV was a royal mess.

The situation at @PTVNewsOfficial is one royal mess. Instead of reforming this white elephant, present management appears to have taken a wrecking ball to it. PM @ImranKhanPTI should look into this mess before the rot becomes irreparable. Departure of @ImtiazGul60 is PTV loss https://t.co/ChoBatRRDR

— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) January 5, 2021

Anchorperson Arshad Sharif also tweeted on Imtiaz Gul’s resignation and criticized the chairman of PTV Naeem Bukhari.

Questionable appointment of sycophant in #PTV taking its toll.
Professionals like @ImtiazGul60 quit in frustration. pic.twitter.com/q0ObHSbvsS

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) January 5, 2021

Imtiaz Gul is the executive director of the Center for Research and Security Studies that he founded in December 2007.