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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry against PTV former managing-director (MD) Muhammad Malik for his alleged involvement in corruption and nepotism as head of the state-run channel.

A letter issued by Prime Minister’s Personal Secretary Qamarul Zaman to the information secretary has ordered a probe against Malik, said a press release issued here on Wednesday by the PM Jati Ummra House Raiwand Road Lahore.

The letter has been dispatched after a complaint was lodged by of former president of PTV employees union Agha Rashid Billa who has alleged that Malik committed corruption, made illegal appointments and inducted favourites in PTV on hefty salaries, took commissions on contracts and hired dramas already screened on private channels at inflated rates.

Billa through his letter has appealed to the information minister, the new PTV MD and others to hold an inquiry against Malik and his cronies, who have allegedly put the PTV on the brink of devastation. He has also requested investigation against all officers of PTV who connived with Malik in ‘plundering-spree’.

Malik and his team gave wrong statements about development of PTV before senate and national assembly standing committees and before other top government functionaries, the letter said. The PTV has been facing the worst-ever financial crunch and it has failed to pay salaries to its employees. Different hospitals and medical units on PTV panel have refused to provide treatment to its employees and medical stores have declined to provide medicines for want of payment of outstanding bills, the letter added.