Tipu removed from Pemra office

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has removed BS-21 Police Service of Pakistan Officer Kamaluddin Tipu from the position of Executive Member (EM) PEMRA.

According to Establishment Division office order F. No. 12(24)/88-E-3 (Police) dated December 23, 2015, Tipu has been directed to report establishment division with immediate effect and until further orders. Tipu, in addition to his responsibilities as EM also acted as acting chairman Pemra and according to government circles had tried to complete process of DTH bidding in an indecent haste despite federal government’s repeated policy directions.

Government circles also allege that Tipu while continuing a flawed process of DTH bidding tried to give an impression that the government was asking him to delay process of DTH bidding because of some vested interests but Pemra, being an autonomous body, was independent in making decisions.

On the other hand, government side was of the view that no one was disturbing autonomous status of the authority and government was simply issuing a policy direction to Pemra under section-5 of Pemra law to postpone the process till the appointment of permanent chairman of the authority. Government side was of the view that completing an important process of DTH bidding in an indecent haste would have been a futile exercise and only ten companies had applied for bidding process following an unprofessionally carried out process.

Government circles also say that apex court has stopped acting chairmen Pemra from functioning or from taking important decisions more than once in past. When new chairman took charge of his office and requested the authority for some time to understand whole process so he can take responsibility of the project, Tipu along with Ashraf Gujjar and chairman PTA opposed delaying DTH bidding process without presenting any solid reason. There were many objections from different sides to continuous appointments of police officers in a media regulatory authority instead of professionals.

According to sources, Tipu himself was feeling uneasy after postponement of DTH bidding process and wanted to leave the authority. Tipu as a police officer enjoyed good repute but his irrational insistence on continuation of a failed process of DTH bidding created a controversy.