The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the removal of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman, Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, declaring his appointment legally flawed.

Justice Babar Sattar issued a detailed 99-page verdict, ruling that the PTA chairman’s appointment had not been carried out in accordance with the law.

The court directed that the current chairman be removed from office immediately and instructed that a senior member of the PTA be appointed as acting chairman until a permanent appointment is made.

The judgment came in response to a petition challenging the legality of the chairman’s appointment.

Hafeezur Rehman files intra-court appeal

After the removal from the PTA chairmanship upon the orders of IHC, Hafeezur Rehman has filed an intra-court appeal.

He filed this appeal to prove the legitimacy of his appointment.

According to the appellant, he has been performing his duties in the PTA in accordance with all legal requirements and regulations. He was first appointed as Member (Administration) on May 24, 2023, and the next day, May 25, 2023, he was appointed as Chairman of the PTA.

The appeal requested the court to fix the case for urgent hearing so that the administrative continuity of the institution is not affected.

Legal experts say that after the filing of the intra-court appeal, the case will now be heard by the High Court’s division bench, and until a decision is made, the chairman’s position will remain under temporary legal consideration.