ISLAMABAD: Confusion in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (Pemra) persists as the authority continues to have two chairmen, adversely affecting administrative work of the institution.

On December 15, the federal government, through the Establishment Division, had issued a notification removing Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed as Pemra chairman.

He had been appointed by the previous PPP government as the Pemra head on January 28, 2013 for a four-year term after the Supreme Court ordered the government to fill the post which had been vacant since 2010.

However, the PML-N government maintained that Mr Rashid’s appointment had not been made through a transparent process, and that he did not meet the criteria specified by the Pemra Ordinance.

Therefore, the government dismissed Mr Rashid and appointed Member Executive Rao Tehsin Ali Khan as the acting Pemra chairman.

Mr Rashid then approached the Islamabad High Court on Monday (December 16), and the court upheld the petition against his removal.

On Tuesday, both Mr Rashid and Mr Khan showed up for work, but the former was prevented from entering the office as his path was blocked by some members of the Pemra Officers Welfare Association.

According to sources in the authority, Mr Rashid then approached the district administration to uphold the IHC ruling in his favour. He was escorted by senior officials of the administration to his room, while Mr Khan discharged his duties from his old office.

“The police broke the locks on Mr Rashid’s office and stayed with him for the two hours he sat in his office,” the source said.

Wednesday saw some calm as Mr Rashid did not show up for work.However, General Manager Media Relations Fakharuddin Mughal said the government had not withdrawn its notification of Mr Rashid’s dismissal.

“Instead the government opted to file an appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the IHC decision, and has also requested the latter to vacate the stay order,” he said.

Fakharuddin Mughal added that both the Supreme Court and IHC would look into the matter on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the government filed the appeal in Supreme Court through its counsel Hafiz S.A. Rehman in which Mr Rashid and Pemra were named respondents.

The appeal stated that Mr Rashid had been appointed Pemra chairman in a non-transparent manner and the government had therefore decided to terminate his contract. The government maintained that the summary moved for Mr Rashid’s appointment was illegal and in violation of the Supreme Court principles.

The summary was also a violation of the rules of business, the appeal said.

It added that the IHC had passed the order in favour of Mr Rashid without seeking comments from the federal government.

In the appeal, the government has requested the apex court to suspend the IHC judgment which had resulted in administrative difficulties in Pemra as two chairmen were currently dispensing their duties.

Furthermore, the government contended that the high court had no jurisdiction under Article 199 to pass the order, and stated that: “The appointment of Pemra chairman is to be made by the federal government under Section 6 of the Pemra (Amendment) Act 2007.”

It further maintained that Rashid Ahmed was appointed shortly before his retirement on April 26, 2013 for another four years, which was in violation of the law.