Notification of Baig’s appointment as PIO likely today

ISLAMABAD: A summary has been moved to the Establishment Division for permanent appointment of Salim Baig as Principal Information Information (PIO) a day after former PIO Rao Tehseen challenged his suspension and orders of disciplinary proceedings against him in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the sources told The News here on Wednesday.

"The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting prepared a summary that was later sent to the Establishment Division for permanent appointment of Salim Baig as PIO and the official notification for this purpose is likely to be issued today (Thursday)," the sources said.

The sources said Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyam Aurangzeb and other government high-ups pondered over the situation and moved the summary to the Establishment Division with the consent of the Prime Minister House for appointment of the permanent PIO.

It is pertinent to mention here that former PIO on Tuesday filed a petition with the IHC against the federal government to provide him with a copy of the Dawn Leaks inquiry report. His counsel stated that a very harsh action had been taken against the petitioner, resulting in his public humiliation and removal from the PIO office.

The sources said Salim Baig, who is a grade-20 officer of Information Group, held the slot of PIO on temporary basis amid high political storm and would now leave the charge of director general of Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications (DEMP).