Islamabad (Special Correspondent): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has raised serious questions over the creation of the post of Member (Administration) in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the subsequent appointment of Major General (R) Hafeez-ur-Rehman as both Member and later Chairman PTA.
The petition was filed by well-known digital rights activist Usama Khilji, who argued that the advertisement issued on March 29, 2023, was illegal since the PTA Appointment Rules at the time did not recognize the position of Member (Administration). He further pointed out that the maximum age limit for PTA members was originally 57 years but was raised to 61, allegedly to benefit a specific candidate.
The Federal Government, however, defended its actions, telling the court that the Cabinet had approved the creation of the post in March 2023 and that the Prime Minister was within his authority to appoint any member as Chairman.
Justice Babar Sattar, in his remarks, stressed that appointments to public regulatory bodies cannot be based on political loyalty or executive whim, but must follow a transparent, competitive, and merit-based process. The Court also underlined that telecom services are directly linked to the fundamental rights of citizens, making the lawful constitution of PTA an essential constitutional requirement.
The case highlights the broader issue of transparency and rule of law in appointments to key regulatory institutions, with the Court signaling that public trust depends on fair and legal processes.
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