lahore -


The Lahore High Court on Thursday overruled an objection on the petition challenging the appointment of Pakistan Electronic Media and Regularity Authority Chairman Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad, and directed the registrar office to fix the petition before any appropriate bench for hearing.
The LHC registrar office put an objection stating the Pemra’s main office is in the federal capital; therefore, the petitioner should approach the Islamabad High Court.
A citizen Shafqat Jamal Ranjha through Advocate Iftikhar Ahmad Bashir has moved the petition stating Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad was serving as federal secretary for information and broadcasting department and his retirement was due in April. However, the secretary got appointed himself as Pemra head on contractual basis for the period of four years, the petitioner said, adding the appointment notification was issued on January 26 by the establishment division.
He said the appointment was not done in accordance with the criteria mentioned in the Section 6 of Pemra Ordinance. According to the criteria, it is a permanent post and no appointment could be made on temporary basis.
Citing judgments of the high courts and Supreme Court, the petitioner asked the LHC to set aside the notification of Rashid’s appointment and issue directives to recover the amount of salaries and other benefits Mr Rashid has received after his appointment as Pemra chairman.