Anusha Rehman’s husband has resigned from PTML’s board, PTV and Capital TV have reported.
Our sources also confirmed the news and said that Mr. Shabbir Ahmed Khan, husband of Anusha Rehman, state minister for Telecom and IT, resigned from his position as member of Board of Directors at PTML.
They said that move was made after Mr. Shabbir’s appointment was discussed in the media and questions about conflicts of interests relating to the appointment had arisen.
As we reported earlier, Shabbir Ahmed Khan was appointed as board member of PTML board on recommendation of government of Pakistan.
Mr. Akhlaq Tarar, Secretary IT at Ministry of IT and telecom, had said that Anusha Rehman had nothing to do with the appointment and in fact government had requested Mr. Shabbir to join the position.
It merits mentioning here that PTML is controlled by PTCL, which is majority owned by government of Pakistan. Out of nine total members of PTML, government is represented by four board members while rest of five board members come from Etisalat, which had bought 26 percent shares in PTCL in 2005.
Experts had said that appointment of Mr. Khan posed serious conflict of interests, as Mr. Shabbir was board member of a company that is potential bidder in upcoming 3G/4G license auction while his wife is the State Minister for the Ministry that is auctioning the spectrum.
Chalo kuch tou sharam khaayi … after (social / ) media dragged this matter into spotlight.