Mr. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court, while hearing a petition challenging the advertisement that was published for the appointment of PTA members, suspended the said advertisement and directed the Government to make appointments strictly in accordance with the qualifications and experience laid down in Schedule 1 of the PTA appointment Rules.
Despite notice nobody appeared on behalf of the Government to defend the petition.
The Court further directed that the appointments should not be finalized since their fate shall be dependant on the outcome of of the petitions filed on behalf of Mr. Amjad Farooq Alvi.
It is worth mentioning that role of MoIT as envisaged in the PTA Act as well as PTA rules are also under challenge before the Court.
Hearing of the petitions was adjourned till 02-10-2013.
It maybe recalled that Government of Pakistan is long trying to fill the position of Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and its members.
For the reference, here’s the timeline for the happenings regarding the appointment of PTA members:
It is apparent that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is chairman-less for last six months and members’ less for last four months. Clearly, government (previous and current) has failed to make appointments, apparently due to incompetence and to induct favourites.
