LAHORE: Ahmad Aziz Tarrar has been appointed as Punjab’s Secretary for Information and Culture, and has also been given the additional responsibility of Director General of Public Relations (DGPR) after he assured the Punjab government that he would facilitate a Rs 150 million payment to Channel 7 Pvt. Limited against illegally issued digital advertisements, sources revealed to The Scoop (TS).
According to insiders familiar with the matter, prior to assuming his new role, Tarrar promised to either dismiss or permanently sack three DGPR advertisement officials who had refused to authorise the payment to Channel 7 Pvt. Limited at the direction of Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
“A senior official working with Minister Aurangzeb confirmed that Tarrar had agreed to either permanently remove DGPR’s Director of Coordination Muhammad Tariq Ismail, Director of Advertisement Abdul Nasir, and Deputy Director of Advertisement Finance Syed Aftab Ali Shah, or to relocate them to remote areas in South Punjab,” said one source.
Criticism Over Tarrar’s Awareness of Rules
A senior DGPR official, speaking to TS, expressed concerns about Tarrar’s understanding of procedural norms. “Even if he signs off as DGPR or Secretary of Information, it will be ineffective unless signed by the concerned officials,” the official stated.
The official also noted, “He convinced the senior minister of his loyalty and his willingness to favor preferred companies under the direction of the Punjab government.”
‘Tarrar bans former DG Rubina Afzal Khan’s entry to office and also confiscated her official vehicle’
Sources from both DGPR and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed that following his appointment, Tarrar banned former DG Rubina Afzal Khan from entering the DGPR offices and reclaimed her official vehicle, which had been assigned to her based on merit and in accordance with the rules.
Family Connections
Insiders also noted that Tarrar’s appointment was likely influenced by his familial ties to prominent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members Ataullah Tarrar, the current Federal Minister for Information, and Saira Afzal Tarrar, a senior PML-N leader and former Federal Minister. These relationships reportedly played a role in his appointment, aside from his commitment to authorise the controversial Rs 150 million payment to Channel 7 for digital advertisements.
However, some other sources claimed that Ataullah Tarrar has no relationship with Ahmad Aziz Tarrar and he has no part in his appointment for the coveted post of Secretary Information.
Despite repeated attempts, the Scoop had failed to reach Secretary Information Ahmad Aziz Tarrar both on phone and Whatsapp for his comment.
