LAHORE, Pakistan: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday annulled the appointment of Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Absar Alam.
The petition had been field by advocate Azhar Siddique in the LHC on behalf of a Citizen Munir Ahmed, challenging the appointment of senior journalist Absar Alam as PEMRA Chairman.
In the Case, Ali Shah Gilani as PEMRA’ Counsel defended the appointment of Absar Alam.
Later, the LHC judge Justice Shahid Kareem after hearing arguments from both the parties reserved the verdict on November 29.
Justice Shahid Kareem in his verdict said that the Chairman PEMRA was not appointed on merit, and in light of the Supreme Court’s orders. Therefore, he announced, Absar Alam’s appointment as the Chairman PEMRA declared null and void.
The LHC judge also ordered the federal government to appoint new Chairman PEMRA within 30 days.
Following the Court verdict, PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam relinquished his charge.
Absar Alam was appointed as Chairman of PEMRA, a government body which regulates electronic media in the Country, on October 22, 2015 by President Mamnoon Hussain on the advice of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
