The main reason for the conflict between the two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leaders is the appointment of the PTV MD as Haque favours Arshad Khan, whereas the information minister is against his appointment.
Now the premier has curbed the power of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the appointment of the person for the post, while authorising the PTV’s board of directors to appoint the PTV MD as opposed to the information ministry, who traditionally appoints the PTV MD.
The conflict between the two leaders came to the fore when they both engaged in a war of words on Twitter.
Taking to the Twitter, Haque, an old aide of PM Khan, had said that the prime minister has full confidence in the board of PTV and its management as he believes PTV should be an independent organisation like BBC.
“The government will take all steps necessary towards that end,” he emphasised.
To this, the information minister had replied with Mirza Ghalib's poetic verse.
Later, Naeemul Haque hit back at the "newcomers in PTI", while referring to the information minister, and said that they should follow PM Khan's philosophy.
He had said: “All the newcomers in PTI must understand and follow the philosophy of Imran Khan. PTI is a strong ideological movement and its success has been due to steadfast determination of its leader to pursue justice and fairness. Anyone thinking otherwise has no future in the party.”
Elaborating on the premier's philosophy, he had said: “It has always been the philosophy of PM IK to focus on institutional development which can become the basis of national development. The PM is determined to change the national landscape in every sphere by making all national institutions autonomous and professionally managed.”
Amid the conflict, there were rumours about the information minster's resignation. However, Naeemul Haque has denied that there is a tiff between the two.