IHC summons PM Shehbaz over delay in filling PTA tribunal vacancy
Justice Kayani warns PM Shehbaz Sharif must appear in court personally if the PTA Tribunal's Finance Member post is not filled by May 18
Aamir Abbasi
Editor, Islamabad
Aamir; a journalist with 15 years of experience, working in Newspaper, TV and Digital Media. Worked in Field, covered Big Legal Constitutional and Political Events in Pakistan since 2009 with Pakistan’s Top Media Organizations. Graduate of Quaid I Azam University Islamabad.
The Islamabad High Court warned on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif must appear in person if the government fails to appoint the Finance Member of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Tribunal by May 18.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued the warning while hearing a case about a prolonged vacancy in the regulatory body. The court also ordered the Secretary and Cabinet Secretary to appear at the next hearing.
Why has the IHC summoned PM Shehbaz over the PTA tribunal vacancy?
The IHC issued the summons because the Finance Member post on the PTA Tribunal has remained vacant for an extended period, despite the position's importance to the body's functioning.
Justice Kayani said the prime minister should personally explain the delay if the appointment is not made by May 18. The court made clear it would not allow key appointments to continue being left unfilled without accountability.
What did the court say about appointing retired judges to tribunals?
During the hearing, an assistant attorney general informed the bench that a retired judge had already been appointed as a tribunal member. Justice Kayani responded with critical remarks about the broader practice of appointing retired judges to such forums, saying it had, in his view, caused institutional harm.
He suggested some appointments were driven by preference rather than merit, with certain retired officials appearing eager to take up post-retirement positions in tribunals and regulatory bodies.
What is the PTA Tribunal and why does the vacancy matter?
The PTA Tribunal plays a central role in adjudicating regulatory and telecom-related disputes in Pakistan. A vacancy in the Finance Member position affects the tribunal's ability to function fully and resolve pending cases.
The IHC's intervention reflects a pattern of judicial scrutiny over delayed appointments in Pakistan's regulatory bodies, with Senate committees also previously raising concerns about the impact of such delays on the telecom sector.
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