Tussle over hosting Pak I-day

Islamabad, July 31: The Pakistan Prime Minister’s house and presidency are locked in a tussle over hosting a cultural event on the eve of the country’s independence day, reflecting the struggle for supremacy between them.

The grand "Azadi Show", beamed live by state-run PTV on the eve of the independence day, had been organised at the Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency for the past five years. This year, PTV received instructions from the PPP-led government that the event should be held at the Prime Minister’s house. After it began preparations to hold the event at the Prime Minister’s house, PTV got orders from the presidency that the show must be held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

"We are in a fix now and waiting for the return of our chairman from the US to resolve the dilemma," a PTV source told the Dawn.

Since 2003, PTV had been arranging the live cultural show on the lawns of the presidency on the intervening night of August 13 and 14. The event features top artists and singers performing before a VVIP audience.

President Pervez Musharraf, his family, the Prime Minister, federal ministers and other government functionaries have attended the event in previous years.

Sources said PTV chairman Shahid Masood received a letter from the government a few days ago that directed him to arrange show at the PM’s house. When arrangements for the show were in their final phase, Mr Masood received another letter, by the spokesman of President, which insisted that the show should be held at the presidency as usual. —PTI