ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the removal of Major General (R) Hafeez-ur-Rehman from his position as Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), ruling that his appointment was unconstitutional. The decision came through a detailed 99-page judgment authored by Justice Babar Sattar.
The court determined that Hafeez-ur-Rehman’s elevation to Member (Administration) and subsequently to PTA Chairman was the product of an unlawful process. It described the entire appointment as a “malice in law,” asserting that the rules had been manipulated to create a position tailored for him.
The judgment specifically noted that the introduction of the Member (Administration) post and the alteration of eligibility requirements amounted to a misuse of authority, carried out in bad faith.
Following its ruling, the IHC ordered Hafeez-ur-Rehman to immediately step down and vacate any official role within the PTA. To ensure continuity, the court instructed that the senior-most member of the PTA assume temporary charge as chairman until the federal government appoints a new head through a legal, transparent, and merit-based process.
The controversial post of Member (Administration) was created in 2023 after amendments to the PTA rules expanded the number of members from three to four. This move, the court observed, was a deliberate effort to pave the way for Hafeez-ur-Rehman’s eventual promotion.
The ruling underscores judicial emphasis on transparency, merit, and adherence to constitutional procedures in high-level regulatory appointments.
