Islamabad High Court (IHC) reintroduced on Thursday Major General (RETD) Hafeezur Rehman as chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and suspended a previous judgment that had ordered his immediate removal.
A division bench of the IHC deposed the individual bench of the judgment of Justice Babar Sattar, who had declared Rehman’s appointment legally deficient and corrected his dismissal.
The individual bench decision, which was issued just a day earlier, had stated that the appointment process did not comply with legal requirements and could not be maintained.
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Justice Sattar’s detailed judgment extends over 99 pages and had suggested that a senior PTA member act as acting chairman until a permanent, legally valid appointment has been made.
Rehman had challenged the IHC decision after the individual bench. The original petition was filed by Digital Rights Activist Usama Khilji through spokesman Asad Ladha, who competed Rehman’s appointment under the 1972 regulation.
Rehman claimed that he was first appointed member (administration) on May 24, 2023 and promoted to chair the following day. After the challenge, he filed an intra-cart appeal.
After hearing arguments, the division bench suspended the individual bench order and reintroduced Rehman to his post, which effectively allowed him to continue as head of the telekele regulator.
