ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Friday requested state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) to broadcast his 'live' address to the nation on Sunday night.

According to an April 8 letter issued by the PTI secretariat to PTV's secretary of information, Imran Khan intends to discuss the recent "disinformation" regarding Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre during the address.

"Since the Panama Leaks have come to the fore, the prime minister, the information minister and various MNAs of the ruling PML-N have used PTV's network to spread disinformation amongst the masses regarding Shaukat Khanum Hospital," the PTI says.

The letter justifies Khan's right to use of the station's platform, saying the television network "runs solely on taxpayers' money, which makes PTV a network of each and every Pakistani citizen".

The PTI goes on to request PTV to "make all the necessary arrangements" for Khan's live address to the nation. "Mr. Khan will address the nation from his office using DSNG/Live OB van."

However, later in the day while speaking to the media, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed said, "We cannot permit Imran Khan to speak live without directive from the Speaker of the National Assembly."

"If he thinks this is a case, Imran Khan is welcome to submit a request to the Supreme Court. The judicial commission has full right to enlist the help of any institution."

'Selective and biased coverage'

Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah lodged a formal complaint with the Speaker on the "selective and biased coverage" of National Assembly debates by Pakistan Television (PTV), mentioning that he has repeatedly highlighted the issue.

"[PTV] usually broadcasts the government's point of view and in contrast gives little or no coverage to the speeches of opposition benches."

"You are the custodian of this August House and we are looking towards you to take notice of this discriminatory attitude of PTV against the assurances" given by the Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed to the contrary in an earlier meeting.

Shah also suggested NA sessions be live streamed on the internet "so that all and sundry may be able to listen to the views of their representatives".

Allegations against SKMT

Earlier, Dawn reported leaders from PML-N and PTI accused each other of bending the truth and siphoning off funds into offshore companies.

Following Imran Khan’s press conference in Peshawar after the Panama data leak -- in which he accused the Sharif family of 'amassing wealth through corruption' -- the government’s team took the fight to the PTI chief when they accused him of ‘losing’ an investment of nearly $18 million, allegedly made from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) funds.

The five-member panel, which was led by Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, included CADD Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Privatisation Commission Chair­man Mohammad Zubair and MNAs Daniyal Aziz and Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha

Brandishing documents regarding SKMT finances, Rashid claimed that an investment of $28m was made from the trust’s funds, but it was later discovered that the property was worth around $10m. This, he said, was no secret because it was mentioned in financial statements for the years 2010 and 2014.

Daniyal Aziz alleged Imtiaz Hydari, chairman of SKMT’s investment committee, was also the CEO, executive vice chairman and board director of HBG Holdings Ltd — the Dubai-based company through which the money was invested.

Ruling out the possibility of the prime minister’s resignation, the information minister said that the Panama Papers had only made certain private information public, but raised no questions about the Sharif family, unlike the case of the Icelandic prime minister, who had to step down.

He also taunted Imran Khan, saying that since the PTI was losing political space, it was trying to achieve political gains by lying to the people.

The government, he said, was always ready to present itself for accountability, adding that this was the second judicial commission they had formed since coming to power.