Non-fulfilment of Contracts by Pakistan Television and Discrimination

USPA NEWS - For the Kind Attention of Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan,
Honorable Chairman Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani & Honorable Members Senate Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting,
Senate of Pakistan,
Parliament House Islamabad

“O you, who believe; fulfill your contracts” (al-Ma’idah, 5:1). This is a command that covers all contracts.

Said Mr. Yasir Akhtar

Subject: Non-fulfilment of Contracts by PTV and Discrimination

I hope this communication finds you in the best of health and spirits. Foremost, please accept my esteemed respects and profound Regards, I avail this opportunity to briefly introduce myself, while apprising about my issue and seek your kind support to resolve the subject matter.

My name is Yasir Akhtar, a well reputed Pakistani-British filmmaker, singer, actor and producer, I belong to a noble and prestigious family associated with media industry, my company Pegasus Productions has produced countless trendsetting productions for various channels and multinationals in Pakistan, as well as in the United Kingdom. Not just this I have launched the careers of various artists. Recently I have premiered two successful films ‘Azaad’ and ‘Rung Dorangi’ on popular Pakistani satellite channels.
Despite all my contributions to promote Pakistan and its media industry across the world, I am suffering due to the non-fulfilment of a contract by Pakistan Television Corporation. The contract is for a multiple multicultural films for a positive image of Pakistan. Each film will be of 90 minutes duration and the contract was signed by PTV with my company Pegasus Productions on 28/11/19, as per the contract, my company was required to invest and produce the films and PTV was responsible to provide slots to broadcast/stream produced films.

Honorable Managing Director Aamer Manzoor, Kanwal Masood, then Director Programming, along-with Mr.Khawar Azhar (ex-Head of Marketing/Content), Farooq Haider (Controller), Saba Athar (Marketing Executive), Ameen Akhtar (CCO Karachi) of PTV approved the project and final draft of the agreement and instructed Sohail Zafar Naik (Controller Programs PTV) to forward it to me for signatures and finally on 28th November 2019, PTV formally entered into an agreement with my company to broadcast multiple films for the positive image of Pakistan.

It was mutually agreed to generate revenue through sponsorships and adverts to meet expenses and compensate investment by equally dividing the sponsorship amount between the two parties (PTV & Pegasus Productions). This agreement was signed after fulfilling all formalities and approval procedures.

The first film was shot in London and was sent to PTV for censorship clearance and release, but PTV delayed release and contrary to the agreement and media industry and channels ‘Code of Conduct’. After two months of signing the actual binding contract; PTV sent an addendum in Jan 2020, with some unacceptable conditions. On my objection on the addendum,

which was in total violation of the actual contract, release of my films has been delayed. PTV kept on forcing me to sign the addendum with clauses which were never part of the binding
contract.
Now, it has been more than 18 months since the first film was approved and censored, the project of multiple films is on hold because of PTV. The delay is causing severe losses to me and to the Exchequer. Moreover, I am suffering badly due to tremendous stress and I also fear copyright infringement, the PTV Headquarters has been holding the unreleased full version copy of the first film since November, 2019. There is a high risk of leakage of the first film’s content, storyline, or any other aspect of the unreleased film, or otherwise the Film will also be outdated due to delay. The concept and idea of the project can also be copied by other parties.

In September, 2020, I was invited in PTV’s Morning Show in Karachi. The show was based on my achievements as a filmmaker, singer, actor and director of Pakistan. The producer of PTV Network Karachi confirmed the date of the LIVE show.

A night before the PTV’s LIVE Morning Show, PTV Headquarters instructed not to invite me. The producer went into utter shock and was surprised by this action of PTV Headquarters. This is gross discrimination and unfairness on PTV’s part which results in jeopardizing the rights of a citizen and an artist of Pakistan. PTV also owes me payments for my appearances in various shows like Celebrity Lounge, Ramazan Transmission, Junior Stars Nadeem Jaffery kay Saath, Eid Transmission, Morning Shows and more since 2018. I have been pursuing the above matters through reminders and final notices with the Management of Pakistan Television Corporation, Ministry for Information and Broadcast, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Citizen Portal and related offices, they keep committing but all in vain. I have approached the Standing Committee of the Upper House of the Parliament after losing hope from all ends.

I will be highly obliged if the matter is taken up by the esteemed committee, and the concerned offices are advised to honour the signed contract and settle the issue at their earliest. Hoping for your sincere consideration, a prosperous future and support please. Thanking you in anticipation. For this project of multicultural films Yasir will be filming on the locations of UK, USA, Canada, Pakistan, UAE and more. The storyline will portray a positive image of Pakistanis and other ethinicities living abroad and in Pakistan. Said : Yasir Akhtar @ Aurangzeb Akbar United State Press Agency Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.