Islamabad:
Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared the appointment of Hafeezur Rehman to chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) illegal and instructed authorities to immediately remove him from the office.
The order came after the court accepted a petition who challenged Rehman’s appointment, filed by the digital rights activist Usama Khilji through spokesman Asad Ladha.
Justice Babar Sattar, who heard the case, had reserved his verdict in a previous hearing after seeking written arguments from the respondents. The detailed judgment spans 99 pages.
The court said the appointment was not legally valid and ordered a senior PTA member to be appointed acting chairman until a permanent and legal appointment is agreed. Later, the Rehman IHC decision challenged.
According to Express News, the appeal was filed under the regulation in 1972.
In his petition, Rehman claimed that he has performed his duties in accordance with laws and regulations and said the appeal was to determine the legality of his appointment.
The appeal noted that Justice Sattar from IHC had handed down the reserved judgment and declared his appointment illegal. Rehman also requested the court to resolve his appeal for an urgent consultation.
