The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared the appointment of Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman as Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) illegal, ordering him to immediately relinquish charge. Justice Babar Sattar’s 99-page judgment, released on September 16, 2025, delivers a landmark ruling on transparency, merit, and rule of law in public sector appointments.
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The court held that the creation of the post of Member (Administration) — to which Rehman was first appointed — and the entire recruitment process were “ultra vires, unconstitutional and tainted with mala fide in law.” The judgment states that the process was tailored to accommodate a pre-selected individual, violating Articles 4, 10-A, 18, and 25 of the Constitution as well as Section 3 of the Telecom Act.
Court Slams Govt for Bypassing Due Process:
The IHC found that the federal government appointed Rehman as Chairman the same day he became Member (Administration) without running any objective or transparent process to compare all three PTA members. The court emphasized that Pakistan is a democracy, not a kingdom, and the Prime Minister’s discretion must be exercised fairly, with documented reasons.
“The entire edifice of processes and decisions built on an illegal foundation must crumble,” the judgment reads, noting that all subsequent decisions — including his elevation to Chairman PTA — are of “no legal effect.”
Senior-Most Member to Take Charge:
Following the judgment, the senior-most PTA member will assume the role of acting chairman until the federal government appoints a regular chairman through a transparent process as directed by the court. The IHC also ordered the government to amend the PTA Appointment Rules to specify clear qualifications, criteria, and procedures for the chairman’s selection.
Implications for Governance & Telecom Sector:
Legal experts say this decision sets a major precedent for merit-based appointments in Pakistan’s regulatory bodies, potentially impacting future appointments across state institutions. Telecom industry stakeholders expect a temporary slowdown in policy decisions until a new chairman is appointed but welcomed the ruling as a step towards institutional transparency.
