Appointment of chairman PTA challenged in Supreme Court

The appointment of the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been challenged in Supreme Court of Pakistan through a petition filed by Shah Khawar, Advocate. He stated that the appointment of the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is in violation of The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996, and merit based prescribed criteria. The appointment of chairman PTA, Farooq Awan is based upon nepotism, favoritism, and personal whims and wishes suppressing law and merit based criteria, holding field for such appointments, the petition said.

He said in his petition that any appointment based upon political consideration, lack of competence to hold this office, and merit based criteria would result in depriving citizens of their fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 9, 14, 18, 23 and 24 of the Constitution.

The appointment of the incumbent chairman PTA is in violation of Section 3 (2) of The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996 which stipulates that the authority shall consist of three members, one of whom shall be a professional telecommunication engineer and other shall be a financial expert and the Federal Government shall from amongst the members, appoint a member to be the chairman of the authority.

Source: thenews.com.pk/