Pakistani court reinstates telecom regulator chief two days after removal order

A Pakistani court has reinstated the head of the country’s telecommunications regulator after suspending an earlier ruling that had declared his appointment illegal and ordered his removal.

A division bench of the Islamabad High Court, headed by Justice Muhammad Asif and Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas, granted a stay order, overturning the earlier single bench decision of Justice Babar Sattar.

On September 16, Justice Sattar had declared Major General (Retired) Hafeez ur Rehman’s appointment illegal, directing his immediate removal in a landmark judgment for governance of the telecom sector.

The 99-page ruling was issued in response to a petition filed by digital rights activist Usama Khilji, who challenged a March 29, 2023, advertisement for the post of PTA Member (Administration).

The court found that the recruitment process violated the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, and the PTA Appointment Rules, 2013. It further ordered the government to appoint the senior-most PTA member as interim chairman and suspend recruitment under the disputed advertisement.

At the center of the case was the Member (Administration) slot, which had been advertised before being formally created under PTA Rules notified on May 4, 2023. Rehman was appointed both as Member and as Chairman on the same day, while the petition remained pending.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Asad Ladha, argued the process was mala fide, citing irregularities including the relaxation of the age limit from 57 to 61 years, the prolonged vacancy of the Member (Technical) position, and Rehman’s lack of a relevant Master’s degree.

Over multiple hearings between May 2023 and August 2025, the federal government defended its decision through Additional Attorney Generals Munawar Iqbal Duggal and Rashid Hafeez, stating the recruitment was consistent with cabinet approvals from March 2023.

Rehman’s legal team, led by Barrister Qasim Wadud and Wasi Ullah Khan, countered that Khilji lacked legal standing under Article 199 of the Constitution and invoked the 26th Amendment in support of their case.

The IHC bench has now suspended Justice Sattar’s decision, granting relief to the chairman until further proceedings.