IHC orders removal of PTA chairman

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the removal of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Maj-Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, ruling that his appointment was unlawful.

The verdict, which had been reserved earlier, was announced during the hearing of a petition filed by citizen Usama Khilji, who challenged a March 2023 advertisement for the newly created post of Member (Administration).

IHC Judge Justice Babar Sattar accepted the plea seeking the chairman’s removal.

In a 99-page judgment, the IHC ruled that the appointment of Maj-Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman as PTA chairman was not legally valid.

Justice Babar Sattar observed that at the time of the advertisement, the PTA Appointment Rules did not provide for such a position, and later amendments could not retroactively validate the recruitment process.

The court directed his immediate removal from office and instructed that a senior member of the PTA be appointed as the acting chairman till the appointment of a permanent chairman.

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“As the entire process of appointment of Respondent No. 4 as Member (Administration) and subsequently as Chairman PTA has been found to suffer from malice in law, being the product of an unconstitutional and illegal recruitment process, he shall cease to hold these appointments and shall immediately relinquish charge of both offices,” the ruling said

“The senior-most serving member of the PTA shall temporarily assume charge as chairman until the federal government appoints a regular chairman in accordance with Section 3 of the Telecom Act, read with the provisions of the PTA Appointment Rules, while ensuring an objective and transparent process,” it said.

Furthermore, the ruling said, the federal government shall amend the PTA Appointment Rules to clearly set out the qualifications, criteria, and process for the appointment of the PTA chairman, in line with the principles prescribed in the law.

Meanwhile, Maj-Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehma has filed an intra-court appeal challenging the IHC’s order to remove him from office.

The appeal has been filed under the Intra-Court Appeals Ordinance 1972.

Farah Mehjabeen