IHC orders removal of PTA chairman over 'illegal' appointment 

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified the appointment of Hafeez-ur-Rehman as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman and directed the authorities to relieve him of his duties without delay.

Justice Babar Sattar of IHC authored a 99-page judgment stating that the appointment was not valid in law and directed that, until a fresh appointment is made, a senior PTA member should temporarily assume the role of chairman.

The ruling criticized the recruitment exercise, remarking that it was carried out without transparency and suffered from legal mala fides.

The judgment observed that all actions flowing from the controversial advertisement, including the creation of the office of Member (Administration) and the subsequent promotion of Rehman, were unlawful and without legal force. 
It declared that a process built on an “illegal foundation” could not support subsequent decisions, which must also fall with it.

The record revealed that while litigation was ongoing, Rehman was appointed as Member (Administration) and later elevated to chairman, even though the IHC had already ruled in 2023 that any such appointments would remain contingent on the outcome of the petition.

The petitioner argued that the PTA, under Section 3 of the Telecom Act, comprises three members only and that the federal cabinet never sanctioned any additional slot.

He contended that advertising the post of Member (Administration) breached the PTA Appointment Rules, which at the time did not recognize such a position.

The petition noted that the advertisement was issued on March 28, 2023, whereas amendments to the rules creating the post were notified later on May 4, 2023.

After hearing all parties, the IHC reserved its decision on August 20, 2025, and has now delivered the verdict directing the removal of the chairman.