“Nawaz Sharif is a national leader” – Marriyum Aurangzeb

Marriyum Aurangzeb who is is a Pakistani politician and current Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting defended PTV’s  allocation of sizable airtime to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

She said, “Nawaz Sharif is a national leader; he has been the prime minister three times. If he and Maryam Nawaz speak for even five hours [at a stretch], we will broadcast it live.” Marriyum also added  that doing so was a discretionary right conferred upon her by the federal cabinet.

“The Cabinet has given me the power to make policy. It is my discretionary right.”

The statement was issued by her after after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Senator Faisal Javed commented that the state network is spending millions of rupees on hours-long speeches of a “disqualified” person and his daughter.

“Only one party, one person and his daughter get coverage on PTV,” Javed said. “Three-hour-long speeches of a disqualified person and his daughter are broadcast live. Millions of rupees are being spent on such transmissions.”

“The only thing lacking is airing of dramas titled ‘mujhey kyun nikala (Why was I forced out)’ on PTV. Perhaps, they should show Nawaz Sharif on PTV Home and PTV Sports as well,” he had said.

“PTV cannot be allowed to run in the manner of a dictatorship,” Javed added, asking the ministry of information to explain its news programming.