Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday restrained Naeem Bokhari from working as Pakistan Television (PTV) Chairman.
Hearing the petition against the appointment, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that no reason was presented for granting relaxation in age requirement and referred the issue back to federal cabinet with the directive to examine the issue at earliest.
The court cited that it was a violation of a 2018 Supreme Court (SC) decision in a similar case in Ataul Haq Qasmi’s appointment.
The IHC sent the matter to the federal cabinet to review it under the decision of the apex court.
“Naeem Bukhari is respectable for us, but not above the law,” the court added.
In 2018, the Supreme Court declared Ataul Haq Qasmi’s appointment against the law.
The top court had ordered the government to appoint a full-time managing director of PTV after fulfilling all legal, procedural and codal formalities strictly in accordance with the law.
In November 2020, the federal government appointed renowned lawyer Naeem Bukhari as (PTV chairman for a period of three years.
The notification issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said, “The federal government is pleased to appoint Shahzada Naeem Bokhari as Independent Director of Pakistan Television Corporation Board.”
It further stated: “The federal government has also approved nomination of Shahzada Naeem Bokhari as chairman PTVC Board in line with the Pakistan Television Corporation.The chairman shall, unless he resigns earlier, hold office for a period of 3 years. The board of directors, PTVC, is directed to ratify his nomination as chairman.”